The IKV Sponsors’ Association A strong network
© DF.FotografieThe aim of the IKV Association is to ensure the competitiveness of the plastics industry in an increasingly global competitive environment. To this end, the association was founded in 1950 at the behest of the then still young plastics industry. Today, the international network counts around 300 companies, associations and federations among its members. By setting up and maintaining the Institute of Plastics Processing at RWTH Aachen University, the association is particularly involved in the training of students at RWTH Aachen University in the field of plastics technology, thus ensuring the next generation of excellently qualified engineers. At the same time, the institute researches practical issues at a scientific level, which are brought to it by the member network.
Together, the institute and the IKV Association of Sponsors are successful
Around 290 international member companies provide a representative cross-section of the global plastics industry. Raw material and machine manufacturers as well as plastics processors, associations and renowned research institutes are among IKV’s sponsors. The constant dialog with the member companies ensures the practical relevance of IKV research. The members are actively involved in the research programs. They benefit from the latest results at an early stage and gain a head start through innovation. Above all, however, they benefit from the intensive exchange and direct contact with young scientists.
The Board of the IKV Sponsors’ Association
The Board of Directors and Board of Trustees do valuable work for the Association
The Board of the IKV Sponsors’ Association consists of the Chairman of the Sponsors’ Association, two deputies and a further four to six Board members. The board is made up of representatives from the raw materials, machinery and plastics processing industries as well as the skilled trades. The Rector of RWTH Aachen University is one of the deputy chairmen. The Board of Trustees is made up of representatives of the authorities that make a significant contribution to the operation of the institute through grants or other funding, the scientific community, the skilled trades sector and the plastics industry. The members of the Board of Trustees must include at least 15 leading personalities from the plastics industry.
The tasks of the Executive Board
The Executive Board manages the Supporters’ Association and is responsible for implementing the Association’s resolutions. The Executive Board also manages the assets of the sponsors’ association. The tasks of the Board of Directors include, among other things, drawing up guidelines for carrying out the work of the Sponsors’ Association. It prepares and monitors the budget.
The tasks of the Board of Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees are elected by the General Assembly for a term of four years. During this time, they advise the association on economic issues and support the Board of Directors. A central task of the members of the Board of Trustees is to maintain relations with representatives of the state, the economy and associations at home and abroad who have an interest in the tasks of the Association.
Chief Executive Officer
- Chairman of the Management Board: Dr.-Ing. Herbert Müller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ewald Dörken AG, Herdecke
- 1st Deputy Chairman: Dipl.-Volksw. Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO of Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik, Troisdorf
- 2nd Deputy Chairman: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. mult. Ulrich Rüdiger, Rector of RWTH Aachen University, Aachen
Other board members
- Renzo Davatz, CEO, NETSTAL Maschinen AG, Näfels (Switzerland)
- Dr.-Ing. Martin Giersbeck, Director – Corporate Research, Applied Mathematics and Engineering for Future Components, Robert Bosch GmbH, Renningen
- Dr. Guiscard Glück, Vice President R&D Engineering Plastics, Performance Materials Europe, BASF SE, Ludwigshafen
- Dr.-Ing. Jochen Hauck, Executive Board Member, Chief Operating Officer, SIMONA AG, Kirn
- Ass.jur. Dirk Palige, Managing Director of the Association of German Chambers of Skilled Crafts (DHKT) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), Berlin
- Dr. Joachim Simon, Senior Vice President – Business Unit Polycarbonates Global Innovations, Covestro Deutschland AG, Leverkusen
Advisory board group meetings
Exchange between science and industry
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© IKVThe Advisory Board Group (FBG) meetings are a proven instrument for direct exchange between the member companies and institutions of the Association and IKV scientists. Active participation in the meetings provides very early insights into IKV research activities – into future processing methods, technologies, systems and materials. This gives our members a competitive advantage. The meetings are explicitly designed to gather feedback and experience from members and give them the opportunity to help shape the direction of research activities at the institute. The FBGs offer an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas with experts from industry and the IKV experts. We are delighted with the active participation of our members every year.
Advisory board group meetings 2025
Date: November 3 – 5, 2025
Location: SuperC of RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 57, 52062 Aachen
Time: The times in the following table are for guidance only. The exact schedule will be announced to the registered participants.
| Day | Time | Advisory board group | Advisory board group |
| Monday, 3.11.2025 | 14:00 – 17:30 | Blow molding + extrusion | Injection molding |
| Tuesday 4.11.2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Extrusion | Injection molding |
| Tuesday 4.11.2025 | 13:00 – 17:00 | PUR | structural calculation and materials engineering |
| Wednesday, 5.11.2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Composites | Rubber |
The member companies of the IKV Association are among the most innovative in their sector. You too can strengthen the innovative power of your company through close and long-term cooperation with IKV. In joint industrial research projects, we work together to build up the knowledge advantage that is crucial for success in global competition.
Membership of the Association means for your company:
- Knowledge advantage through access to the latest research results
- Participation in practice-oriented joint industrial research
- Securing the next generation of engineers
Christian Hopmann
Who are our members?
The majority of the companies that are members of the association are small and medium-sized enterprises that benefit directly from the research work at IKV and thus secure their competitiveness.
These companies and institutions are among the most innovative in their sector. This is not least due to the close cooperation with IKV.
