Professor Horst Chmiel celebrates 85 years of pioneering work in process technology!

Professor Horst Chmiel celebrates 85 years of pioneering work in process technology!

München, Deutschland - On April 20, 2025, Horst Chmiel, an important scientist in the field of process technology, celebrates his 85th birthday in Munich. Chmiel is a professor of process technology and founding director of the "Society for Environmental Compatible Process Technology mbH", which he led until his retirement in 2005. Born in Königshütte, Upper Silesia, he completed his studies in process engineering at the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Technical University in Aachen and received his doctorate in 1971.

his academic career began Chmiel as a research assistant before habilitated in 1973 and was appointed extraordinary professor at the Fraunhofer Institute for interface and bio-procedural technology (FHIGB) in Stuttgart in 1977. There he continued his research work, which affected the flow properties of blood and hemodialysis. He achieved his international reputation through his work in the field of membrane technology.

research and innovation

Chmiel was instrumental in the founding of the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Technology and initiated the research association "Bio-procedural technology" in 1986, which was created with the support of the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology and the State of Baden-Württemberg. In 1992 he was appointed to the Saarland University and expanded his field of work to environmental biotechnology. In this function and as a founder of the Society for Environmental Compatible Process Technology, he employed up to 60 people and achieved an annual third -party volume in the millions.

His scientific contributions include around 200 publications and more than 100 patents, including the standard work "Bioprietstechnik", which was first published in 1991 and has been in fourth edition since 2018. Many of his findings led to the establishment of the company "Cerafiltec Germany GmbH" by four of his former employees.

sustainability and vocational training

The relevance of Chmiel's research is also reflected in the training of young specialists. The master's degree in organic and process engineering at the University of Saarland deals with process-related and mathematical basics to increase expertise. Different modules, such as process simulation and analysis, as well as interface process technology.

There is a special focus on the deepening direction of biotechnology, in which the students get to know the entire process chain from product development to downstream processing. This interdisciplinary approach promotes sustainability and understanding of technical, ecological and economic aspects, which is of great importance for future graduates. The competence to assess environmental impacts and the use of simulation tools are key qualifications for working in various industries.

Horst Chmiel's commitment to research and training not only shaped his own career, but also laid the foundation for future innovations in process technology. The principles he has represented are of central importance for today's and upcoming generation of scientists and engineers.