Helmar Weseslindtner

Helmar Weseslindtner (born May 20, 1940 in Ried im Innkreis , Upper Austria; † April 9, 2008 in Vienna ) was an Austrian mechanical engineer and professor at the Vienna University of Technology. As a specialist in computer-guided manufacturing and toolmaking , he was an innovator and scientific consultant in collaborations with numerous industrial companies.

After graduating from the HTL Wien / Schellinggasse, Weseslindtner studied mechanical engineering and industrial engineering at the Technical University of Vienna from 1960–65 , received his doctorate in 1969 with distinction and qualified as a professor in 1974 for mechanical technology with a special focus on machine tools . From 1978 he developed in the United States at the American GFM Corporation in Virginia computer-controlled machines and processes, and later moved to Scharmann & Co in Moenchengladbach , where he systems for computer-controlled, interlinked production developed. In 1982 he returned to the (now) Vienna University of Technology and in 1986 was appointed professor for computer-guided manufacturing.

This is where further developments were made in cooperation with well-known manufacturers in the Austrian and German machine tool industries such as Scharmann, Deckel, Hüller Hille, Maho and Heid. In order to predict the behavior of complex manufacturing systems even in the event of malfunctions , Weseslindtner relied on computer-aided simulation . One of the international research projects took place within the framework of the EU project "Forecast", the aim of which was mechanisms and standards for industrial companies in manufacturing and process engineering.

Weseslindtner founded a test laboratory for industrial robots around 1985 and participated in the government's microelectronics funding program (with Kapsch, Schrack, Siemens and Philips), as well as in the international "Joint Coordinating Forum for the International Advanced Robotics Program". The focus in the following years was the integration of production with the upstream areas of CAD , CAP and PPS . The first CIM laboratory was set up with the computer manufacturers IBM, Nixdorf and DEC, and the “Inter- University Center for Computer Integrated Manufacturing” ( IUCCIM ) was founded in 1991 as an amalgamation of several institutes at the TU and the Vienna University of Economics and Business . Weseslindtner headed IUCCIM until 1997 and through his industrial contacts was able to direct many investments into the institutes involved. The mutual transfer of knowledge between university and industry resulted in several university courses for managers, international research projects and a " EUREKA Lillehammer Award" for innovative product development.

At the end of the 1990s, technological contract research came to the fore, for example on tool optimization, assessment of cooling lubricants and process engineering, cutting tools and in medical bone drilling.

Weseslindtner wrote numerous publications in the field of manufacturing technology and CAM and acted as long-time chairman of the committee for work technology at the Federal Chamber of Commerce. His lectures were popular, he viewed the students as “customers” and often involved them in research. Regarding his rhetorical talent, he humorously said that he “belongs to those people who like to hear themselves talk”. His institute for production technology had the training company certified according to ISO 9001 for the first time in Austria , which proves the fertile working atmosphere.

Helmar Weseslindtner had been married to his wife Karin since 1969 and had two children (* 1976 and 1981). He was buried at the Dornbacher Friedhof in Vienna.

Web links

• Obituary by Prof. Helmar Weseslindtner, "Arbeitsstechnik" 2008
• Mechatronics workshop, 2004 (PDF; 448 kB)