New employees at DFO

Since December 1, 2023, the team of the German Research Association for Surface Treatment e.V. (DFO) has been strengthened by Lea Drückes as a new research assistant. Drückes studied chemical engineering with a focus on paint engineering at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in Krefeld and wrote her master's thesis at Henkel AG & Co KGaA in the field of pretreatment. Lea Drückes' areas of responsibility include supporting the laboratory, providing advice and supporting specialist committees and conferences. She is looking forward to applying and expanding the knowledge she gained during her studies to the diverse work of the DFO.

Roland Grolik joined the DFO team on March 1, 2024. As assistant to the Executive Board, he will be involved in all areas of the DFO and will succeed the current Managing Director Ernst-Hermann Timmermann from 2026. Grolik holds a degree in chemical engineering (FH). During his studies at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, he gained his first experience in the field of instrumental analysis at Bayer CropScience. He started his career in 2008 at the paint manufacturer Axalta in Wuppertal. In the company's own laboratory, he used gas chromatography methods to check the composition of paints and solvents, among other things. After changing employers, Roland Grolik began analyzing fruit and vegetable samples in an accredited laboratory using high-resolution chromatography methods and took over the management of the laboratory there in 2015. From April 1, 2024, Marzena Fazliu will support the DFO team in the area of event management. Fazliu completed a five-week internship at the DFO as part of her further training as an office management assistant and is looking forward to her new tasks at the DFO. She will be the first point of contact for DFO conferences and training courses.