TRUMPF names vice president, lasers

Dr. Christian Schmitz is joining TRUMPF Inc. as the vice president, lasers, effective February 1. He will be located at the company's North American headquarters in Farmington, Conn. The announcement was made by Rolf Biekert, president and CEO.

In this role, Dr. Schmitz will have responsibility for the TRUMPF Laser Technology Center in Plymouth, Mich., and TRUMPF Photonics in Princeton, N.J., and for the TruMark Sales, Laser Production, and Laser Development Departments. He also will work closely with product managers to support the sale of lasers throughout the North American market.

Dr. Schmitz is transferring from TRUMPF Laser GmbH + Co. KG (TLS) in Schramberg, Germany, where he has been responsible for managing the Disk Laser Group and overseeing the development of the new diode-pumped solid laser system. Since 2005, he has been in the role of Head of Research and Development at TLS, with responsibility for seven related departments. He joined TRUMPF in 1999, after completing his Dr.—Ing. (PhD) at the Institute fr Strahlwerkzeuge (IFSW) at the University of Stuttgart. His doctoral research work was focused on high power CO₂lasers and disk lasers.