WZR ceramic solutions GmbH was founded in 1996 by Dr. Wolfgang Kollenberg. The idea was to offer laboratory and R&D services to manufacturers and users of ceramic products. After 25 years, WZR has established itself as an important partner for the industry in the field of material, process and product development.
Now it is time to set the right course for the future and we are glad to have found what we believe to be the optimal way forward. Dr. Dieter Nikolay has taken over shares in the GmbH from the previous sole shareholder Dr. Kollenberg and will join the management on May 1, 2021.
Dieter Nikolay, born in 1975, initially trained as an industrial clerk after graduating from high school. He then studied materials engineering for glass and ceramics in Höhr-Grenzhausen. His diploma thesis led him to WZR as early as 2001, and after completing his studies he began working for the company as a research assistant.
In the following years, Dieter Nikolay worked on a wide variety of development topics, managed numerous projects and took over the development department in 2009. In addition to his work in the company, Dieter Nikolay received his PhD from the University of Bonn in 2010. Since 2012, he has been responsible for development and production as Head of Engineering and has increasingly contributed to shaping the company’s orientation during his time at WZR. In 2004, Dr. Nikolay was granted general power of attorney, and in 2016, individual power of attorney.
With his entry into the management, a continuous further development of the company is guaranteed. Additive manufacturing, as the dominant topic of numerous development projects for our customers, has been placed on a broad basis in recent years. In addition to ceramic materials, metals are now increasingly coming into focus. WZR will continue to develop innovations with creative solutions in the future.
Dr. Wolfgang Kollenberg will retire from the management board at the end of September 2021 and then accompany the company’s further path as a shareholder.
