Isabellenhütte Heusler has new overall head of development

Over the past three decades, Isabellenhütte Heusler, based in Dillenburg Germany has undergone a fundamental change, evolving from a supplier of semi-finished products into a globally active company, whose thermoelectric and resistance alloys, low-ohmic precision and power resistors, current, voltage, and temperature measurement systems, are in demand worldwide. Dr Ullrich Hetzler, head of R&D for many years, retired in July, and was succeeded in this role by physicist, Dr Jan Marien. Dr Marien, from the north German town of Kiel, who joined the company in October 2010 as Head Development for Measuring Technology. In his new role, Dr Marien will use of his experience as Head of development and Head of technological development at Sensitec, the sensors manufacturer, for which he worked from 2003 to 2010. Previously he had spent five years as a team leader for physical materials analysis and as a project manager for sensor systems at IBM Deutschland Speichersysteme GmbH, as well as five years as a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, formerly the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, in Stuttgart. Leading innovation, shaping the future One of the key tasks of the new overall head of development will be to foresee technology trends, and as they emerge, harness them as inspiration for the company's long-term development. Dr Marien explains the areas he intends to focus on. "I will be helping produce product and technology road maps for medium- and long-term corporate planning and manage operations in both our components and measurement business fields, as well as driving their strategic development." The company intends that the measurements division become established as a tier 1 supplier, accepted by customers, specifically for industrial drive technology, energy distribution networks and renewable energies. For components, Dr Marien will work to generate economies of efficiency and scale with existing products, as well as entering new markets and applications with new products. Early achievement of series production readiness In the reorganised R&D department, Dr Marien will combine tasks related to continuing an inovative tradition with new foci and ideas. He plans to set new standards in areas such as product development; with new product ideas being series production-ready at the earliest prototype stage of the production process and the associated cost structure. Formulating this, the company is responding to challenges of Isabellenhütte's established structures,with the increase in internationalisation and rapid market growth. Embarking on his new role, Dr Marien said, "This approach is crucial if we wish to secure our USPs and therefore remain competitive. Our medium-sized, family-run business possesses the ideal set of conditions to continue to take this strategy forward." Isabellenhütte Heusler