In addition to academic teaching, the focus will be on advancing research in the field of recycling
© IKVProf. Dr.-Ing. Achim Grefenstein joined the circle of scientific directors at the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) in Industry and the Skilled Crafts at RWTH Aachen University on January 1, 2024. His focus will be on dovetailing industry and research in the field of the circular economy. With this newly created position, IKV is underlining the importance of the topic of sustainability for its own research and creating another important link to industry.
Achim Grefenstein is a graduate of the IKV and has been a part-time lecturer in compounding technology and recycling at the RWTH since his habilitation in 1998. He began his career in industry in 1996 as an application engineer in technical marketing at BASF SE. In 2004, he joined RKW SE as Head of Research and Development. He has been Head of Research and Development at Constantia Flexibles since 2013. In future, he will divide his time between R&D management at Constantia Flexibles and his new role at IKV.
“In addition to teaching, my new role is about driving forward research in the field of recycling,” says Achim Grefenstein. “I am deeply convinced that we will be able to master the associated challenges if we succeed in establishing a close alliance between industrial and university research. I see this as my main task. I look forward to working with the many young creative minds here at IKV!” Achim Grefenstein is also involved in the circular economy and plastics recycling in various bodies and committees. He has been an Advisory Board Member of the cross-industry initiative RecyClass of the industry association Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) since 2019 and Chairman of the Packaging Division of the industry association European Plastics Converters (EuPC) since 2020. From 2016 to 2020, Achim Grefenstein was also Chairman of the Bioplastics Working Group of the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen.