Honorary doctorate for Herbert Kraibühler
07.11.2016
The former Arburg Managing Director Technology & Engineering, Herbert Kraibühler, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Technical University of Munich (TUM) for his outstanding achievements and ideas in research and development for plastics processing in the areas of injection moulding and additive manufacturing. These developments are frequently used today in industrial production.
The former Arburg Managing Director Technology & Engineering, Herbert Kraibühler, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Technical University of Munich (TUM) for his outstanding achievements and ideas in research and development for plastics processing in the areas of injection moulding and additive manufacturing. These developments are frequently used today in industrial production.
• Former Arburg Managing Director Technology & Engineering recognised by Technical University of Munich
• Outstanding achievements in research and development honoured
• Ceremony attended by the Arburg Partners
In awarding Herbert Kraibühler the right to use the title “Dr.-Ing. E.h.”, TUM cited the further development of injection moulding technology as one of his achievements. He promoted the integration and automation of injection moulding technology and optimised production. In doing so, he pre-empted a development which today goes by the name of Industry 4.0. Herbert Kraibühler also realised early on the central role that interaction between human and machine would play in modern production. This resulted in the development of an innovative machine controller, the Selogica, which to this day enables full control over increasingly complex injection moulding processes.
Herbert Kraibühler was also a visionary in the field of additive manufacturing. He spent many years working on joint research projects with the TUM, investigating fundamental questions in this area. The topics covered included polymers, dosage methods and optimum filling strategies. The result was an innovative system for industrial additive manufacturing which had much more to offer than simple 3D printers.
Ceremony
The Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. Tim Lüth, described the cooperation as “an exemplary partnership between an innovative, family-run company and an elite technical university”. Herbert Kraibühler’s outstanding technical and scientific achievements have now been rewarded with the honorary doctorate. Also present at the conferment ceremony with Herbert Kraibühler were his wife Ellen and son Mathias, Arburg Partners Eugen Hehl, Juliane Hehl, Michael Hehl and Renate Keinath as well as the Director Research & Development Dr. Eberhard Duffner and his wife Eva.
Half a century at Arburg
In total, Herbert Kraibühler spent 50 years at Arburg. He started his apprenticeship as a machine fitter at the company in 1964. He then studied precision engineering specialising in plastics technology in Karlsruhe, before returning to the company as a development engineer in 1972. His career ultimately led him to the position of Managing Director Technology & Engineering, which he held for 18 years.