Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Prokop has been named the new Chairman by the Executive Committee of the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) and the Sector Association Machine Tools and Manufacturing Systems within the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) in its autumn meeting. He will thus effective 1 January 2016 succeed Martin Kapp, who in accordance with the bylaws will be stepping down after six years once his second term of office comes to an end.
“I am grateful for the confidence placed in me, and am looking forward to my future remit in the VDW,” said Heinz-Jürgen Prokop after his election. “The German machine tool industry is on the right track for success. For the VDW, the task now is to support its member companies in future-shaping issues as well, like internationalisation, energy-efficiency, securing new recruits, additive manufacturing processes and Industry 4.0, and smoothing their path. I want to make a proactive contribution towards this,” he added.
Heinz-Jürgen Prokop is 57 years old, and as a member of the board at Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG in Ditzingen responsible for development and purchasing. After passing his abitur and obtaining a degree in process engineering, and then being awarded a doctorate at Stuttgart University, he began his career as a Design Manager at Trumpf Lasertechnik GmbH + Co. KG. In 1993, he joined Krupp Maschinentechnik GmbH in Essen for nine years as a General Manager. This was followed by further posts as a General Manager of Fritz Studer AG in Switzerland and Frigoblock Grosskopf GmbH in Essen. In 2011, he returned to Trumpf in Ditzingen as Managing Director.
Heinz-Jürgen Prokop has been actively involved in the VDW since 2012, initially on the Technical Committee, and since 2015 on the VDW’s Executive Committee as well.
