14.05.2024

Solutions-oriented research on the power generation and mobility of the future: Markus Schwaderlapp and Christopher Steinwachs lead the FVV Board

The FVV eV has undergone a sweeping transformation over the last few years and, with its innovative fields of research, now stands for all energy conversion systems and powertrain solutions of the future. Now that the long-standing chairman Prof. Dr. Peter Gutzmer was awarded the honorary chairmanship of the research association, Dr. Markus Schwaderlapp as the new chairman and Christopher Steinwachs as deputy chairman will continue to lead the FVV Board.

Science for a moving society // Frankfurt/M.

»In recent few years, we have talked a lot about future concepts, be they energy sources, powertrains or entire ecosystems. This was important, as we need to think in terms of systems to be able to navigate the era of transformation. I believe it is necessary to move towards a solutions-oriented approach and greater technology neutrality, « explains the new FVV Chairman Dr. Markus Schwaderlapp in a detailed interview

»With its pre-competitive research projects, the FVV provides the basis for the development of sustainable technical solutions for energy and powertrain systems. I see it as my task to continue working in this direction

Dr. Markus Schwaderlapp
New chairman of the FVV Board

The Executive Committee of the FVV eV elected Dr. Markus Schwaderlapp, Senior Vice President Research and Development at DEUTZ AG, as its new Chairman. He succeeds Prof. Dr. Peter Gutzmer, who was awarded the honorary chairmanship due to his many years of dedication and commitment to the research association. Christopher Steinwachs, Vice President Blades & Vanes / Gas Services at Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG, was confirmed as Deputy Chairman.

»We are very much looking forward to working with the two chairmen Markus Schwaderlapp and Christopher Steinwachs,« says FVV Managing Director Dietmar Goericke. »At the same time, I would like to thank Peter Gutzmer for his great commitment in the past years of transformation, which were formative for the FVV and laid the foundation for a successful future

Christopher Steinwachs
Deputy Chairman

Prof. Dr. Peter Gutzmer
Honorary Chairman

The presidency is completed by the second Honorary Chairman, Prof. Dr. Burkard Göschel, and the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. Andreas Kufferath, Vice President System Engineering Diesel / Hydrogen Powertrain at Robert Bosch GmbH.

The term of office of the chairmen is two years. The honorary chairmanship is awarded for lifetime.

Dr.-Ing. Markus Schwaderlapp
Markus Schwaderlapp (b. 1961) studied materials science at RWTH Aachen University. He received his doctorate from Prof. Dr. techn. Franz Pischinger at the Chair of Internal Combustion Engines on the subject of ›Ceramic components in engines / development of low-emission combustion processes for natural gas engines‹. He began his professional career in 1990 at the engineering service provider FEV GmbH in Aachen. He held various management positions there, most recently as Executive Vice President Engineering & Sales Europe / South America. In January 2015, he took over as Senior Vice President Research and Development at DEUTZ AG in Cologne. Markus Schwaderlapp has been a member of the FVV Executive Committee since 2018 and Chairman since the end of 2023.

Dipl.-Ing. Christopher Steinwachs
Christopher Steinwachs (b. 1965) studied mechanical engineering at RWTH Aachen University and Michigan State University, USA. He started his career at Siemens in 1992 in the field of fact-finding/investigation of gas turbines, steam turbines and generators. After five years of field research, he moved to Siemens Power Corporation (Milwaukee, USA), where he was responsible for the development of technical support for the gas turbine fleet. After returning to Germany in 1999, Christopher Steinwachs took on various management positions before assuming global responsibility for the development of large gas turbine equipment in October 2010 and for the global research and development organisation for all gas and steam turbines and generators in 2016. From August 2019, he headed the global production network of hot gas components for gas turbines. In 2021, he was appointed Vice President Blades & Vanes for Siemens Energy Gas Services. Christopher Steinwachs has been a member of the FVV Executive Committee since 2015 and Deputy Chairman since 2019.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Gutzmer
Peter Gutzmer (b. 1953) is recognised worldwide as one of the most renowned experts in powertrain systems and mobility concepts. Among other things, the long-standing honorary and visiting professor (Karlsruhe, Shanghai, Chengdu) was also a member of the National Platform for Electromobility and the National Platform Future of Mobility. Until his retirement in spring 2019, Peter Gutzmer held various management and project management positions at Porsche, Continental and Schaeffler. From 2014 to 2019, he was Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board at Schaeffler AG. Peter Gutzmer has been a member of the FVV Executive Committee since 2010; he was its Chairman from 2017 to 2023, and has been Honorary Chairman since the end of 2023.

The FVV organises facts- / field-based collective research on sustainable powertrain and energy systems of the future for an international network of science and automotive, mobility and energy industries. As a service provider for innovative businesses, especially SMEs, we organise solutions-oriented research projects and communicate their key results and innovation potential.

In the innovation + transfer network of the FVV, globally operating manufacturers of energy carriers, energy systems, sustainable powertrains and prime movers such as vehicle / aircraft / industrial engines, fuel cells and turbo machines, together with their suppliers and development service providers, conduct in close cooperation with universities and other research institutions pre-competitive, industrial collective research on future technologies. The aim is to operate energy converters – engines, hybrid powertrains, turbines, compressors, turbochargers and fuel cells – with renewable energy sources in new, (partly) electrified, integrated and digitalised conversion systems in a more efficient, cleaner and sustainable way – to the benefit of society, climate, environment and industry.

Sustainable energy conversion systems facilitate individual mobility, transportation, energy supply and industrial added value. The innovative power of the industry and its economic success make a significant contribution to social prosperity. As a non-profit organisation, the FVV supports the evolution of its members - small, medium and large companies – and the promotion of young scientists. The research association has invested more than 500 million euros in 1,200 research projects since it was founded in 1956.