Search

Awards

Decisions on awards shall be checked against these objectives.

  • The individual awardees, real persons with a face and a career, give the public an idea of the research field and the industrial innovation – no less than a descriptive text, in their totality perhaps even better.
  • They motivate individuals to commit themselves to work in the field of HTSE.
  • The award ceremony and the publication are an occasion for the Federation to be noted in public with good news.
  • They create a personal and emotional link with the Federation for all those who know and appreciate the awardees.
  • Awardees still in their professional career are promoted, and employers are made aware of outstanding talents.
  • The fields of research and innovation of the awardees are featured to the public.
  • They satisfy the very human desire to express gratitude and respect to persons of merit.

Candidates can be named by EC members, member associations, and former awardees. The suggestion must be accompanied by citation of 300-500 words and a summary of 25-50 words and shall be submitted to the EC for approval by at least two thirds of all the EC members.

After the decision to give the award, the President and Secretary inform the awardee and ask whether the award is accepted, and when and where the award shall be given. After the decision of the awardee, the award will be published in the programme of the respective event.

Awards are given during an award ceremony organized during an event where many persons from the HTSE community are present. Normally this is an IFHTSE congress or conference. All awardees get the IFHTSE badge during the award ceremony. On the occasion, pictures are normally taken and published.

If an awardee is unable to attend an award ceremony for an extended time, an IFHTSE representative may give her or him the award in a private meeting and subsequently report shortly during an IFHTSE event. Members of the Executive Committee are not eligible for any awards during their period of service. Awards are decided only for living persons. Should the awardee pass away after the decision, a person like a relative, a colleague or a successor may stand in for her or him to be handed the award.

After the award ceremony, a report or note appears in the IFHTSE Bulletin/newsletter.

All awards are listed on the IFHTSE website.

Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

The IFHTSE Medal is awarded from time to time for internationally recognised distinguished achievements in Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering. These may equally be seminal scientific findings or innovative breakthroughs in our industry which are widely published and cited.

Name Affiliation
Tadashi Furuhara Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Michel JeandinMines Paris Tech, Evry, France
John Speer Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
Marcel Somers Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby
Harshad Kumar Dharamshi Hansraj "Harry" BhadeshiaUniversity of Cambridge, UK
George TottenTexas A&M University, USA, and Totten Associates
Eric MittemeijerMax Planck Institute for Metals Research, Stuttgart, Germany
Tadashi Maki Kyoto University, Japan
George KraussColorado School of Mines, Golden CO, USA
Urs WyssMAAG Gear Co., Switzerland, and first IFHTSE Secretary
Tom BellUniversity of Birmingham, UK

Medal yet to presented

“For his life-time achievement in the physical metallurgy of diffusional and displacive phase transformations in steels and titanium alloys and advanced microstructure characterization with electron microscopy techniques.”

Tadashi Furuhara was born in 1960 in Japan. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the department of metal science and technology at Kyoto University and his PhD degree from Carnegie Mellon University in USA. From 1989 to 2005 he was employed at Kyoto University. Since 2005 he is professor at the Institute of Materials Research (IMR) at Tohoku University in Sendai. During his career Prof. Furuhara has served as director of IMR; he is currently president of The Iron Steel Institute of Japan and a director of The Japan Society for Heat Treatment. Furthermore, he is editor of Acta Materialia and Scripta Materialia.
Prof. Furuhara’s research achievements concern diffusive and displacive phase transformations in metallic materials, microstructure control by thermochemical processing in ferrous and non-ferrous alloys as well as shape memory alloys and surface engineering of steels. His academic work from Kyoto University and Tohoku University is very well-known and well-cited in the discipline of physical metallurgy. He is particularly recognized for his work on variant pairing and variant selection in ferrous martensite and bainite. For his research activities Prof. Furuhara and team excel in the application of a suite of electron microscopy and electron diffraction techniques as well as atom probe tomography.
Prof. Furuhara has fostered independent thinking among students by promoting open discussions. His holistic approach based on fundamental principles provides students with an exemplary model of logical thinking and designing experiments. He has supervised 18 Ph.D. students, including 8 researchers from industry and 7 international students. Moreover, he has hosted over 20 visiting professors and students in his research group from various countries, including the United States, Canada, China, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Brazil. His efforts in building an international network contribute to the development of the international steel research society.
Prof. Furuhara passionately disseminates acquired knowledge in the metallurgical society through collaborative research and consultation for over 30 companies. These companies encompass a diverse range, including steel and special steel companies, heat treatment enterprises, automotive component manufacturers, construction equipment manufacturers, and heavy industry corporations. The application of advanced microstructure analysis techniques and suggestions based on his profound understanding of physical metallurgy in steels contributes to the development of new products and the training of the engineers in these industries.

Medal presented at the 28th IFHTSE Congress, Yokohama, 2023

“In recognition of his life-time contributions to Materials Science and the dissemination of knowledge, especially in Surface Modification Technologies such as the development of Cold Spray technology and next-generation surface coatings”

Michel Jeandin graduated engineer from Lyon Central School (France) in 1977 and defended a PhD thesis at Paris Mining School in 1981 on the subject: the liquid phase sintering of superalloys. During his post-doctoral position at the Paris Mining School, he was in charge of studies of high-temperature materials used for aircraft engine applications. In 1983, he was appointed R/D engineer in the corrosion department of the company Framatome, dedicated to nuclear reactors. Subsequently, he returned to the Paris Mining School as an assistant research group leader in the powder metallurgy sector and advanced proceses. In 1989, he was a visiting scientist at the joint research center - Ispra (Italy) of the Commission of the European Communities. Likewise in 1991, he was a visiting scientist at the Imperial College, dept. of materials, in London. From 1992 to 1995, in addition to research and teaching activities, he initiated and ran a project to create a center for plasma spraying processes at Mines Paris Tech. From 1995 to 2016, he was Director of the Center for Spray Processing using a Controlled Atmosphere Plasma Spray system, under the umbrella of Paris Mining School, The French Atomic Research Agency (CEA) and the University of Evry. Until 2021 he was Research Professor at Mines Paris Tech in the field of Surface Processing, Coating and Tribology. He is officially retired since 2021, but he started a company in surface engineering (CPAMAL; https://www.cpamal.com) by developing an artistic approach to the use of cold spray to create works of art.
Michel Jeandin's main contribution was thermal spraying which is the basis of his worldwide reputation. In particular, this relates to the cold spray process, as he was a pioneer and had deep and continuous involvement in the study of the process from its very beginnings some 25 years ago.
The work done by Michel Jeandin led to more than 400 publications, most of which in the field of surface engineering and heat treatments. Among them, no less than 177 were published in refereed international journals and 5 consisted of invited chapters of reference books (e.g. for cold spray and laser shock processes). Moreover, 20 patents and one registered trademark have also been credited to Michel Jeandin.

Medal presented at the 27th IFHTSE Congress, Salzburg, Austria, September 2022

“For his life-time achievement in physical metallurgy, development and heat treatment of advanced steel concepts from theory to practical application, with particular focus on his leading role in the development of the Quenching and Partitioning Process”

John G. Speer combines excellent academic work with a close relationship to industrial partners and practical application of his findings. The core of his industrial and academic research activities are advanced heat treatment processes based on a deep understanding of physical metallurgy in combination with advanced alloy concepts. This approach which comprises both process and material is recognized worldwide as a milestone in the development of new steels and their applications. He was among the initiators and is the leading driving force for the development of the Quenching and Partitioning Process, which is certainly one of the major advancements for heat treatment in recent years. John G. Speer is the John Henry Moore Distinguished Professor of Physical Metallurgy at Colorado School of Mines, and Director of the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center (ASPPRC). He received a B.S. degree from Lehigh University in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, in 1980 and a D.Phil. in Physical Metallurgy from the University of Oxford, UK in 1983. He served in various positions at the Homer Research Laboratories of Bethlehem Steel Corporation from 1983-1997, where he was involved in prod- uct research, customer and operations support, and research management. He became a Professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at Colorado School of Mines in 1997, and has also served as Mines' Associate Vice-President for Research from 2008 until he became Director of ASPPRC in 2013. He has received a number of awards such as the AIST Tadeusz Sendzimir Medal and HuntKelly Award, American Iron and Steel Institute Gold Medal, Institute of Materials Charles Hatchett Award, AWS William Spraragen Memorial Award, SAE/AISI Sydney H. Melbourne Award, Villares Prize of ABM (Brazil), Dean's Excellence Award for Teaching and ResearchColorado School of Mines, and the Henry Bessemer Gold Medal from IOM3 in London. John is also a Distinguished Member of AIST and a Fellow of ASM International. With the medal for Prof. J. G. Speer we follow the tradition to honour excellent work in the field of physical metallurgy for heat treatment like we did with the earlier IFHTSE medals for Prof. G. Krauss (2007), Prof. T. Maki (2008), and Prof. H. K. Bhadeshia (2015).

Medal presented at the 26th Congress, Moscow, Russia, September 2019

The award recognizes Prof. Somers’ contribution to the understanding and application of metal-gas reactions in metals engineering processes generally identified as thermochemical surface engineering. Marcel Somers (born in 1960, in Vlissingen, The Netherlands) graduated and obtained his Ph.D. degree (in 1989) at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Already at this time his work was devoted to the nitriding and nitrocarburizing of iron-based materials. In 89/90 he was with Philips Center for Materials, Technology and Innovation as section leader in advanced materials characterization. He returned to Delft University of Technology as assistant professor in physical chemistry of the solid state in 1990 and was appointed full professor of physical metallurgy at the Technical University of Denmark in 1997. There he built up his own group and successfully developed his independent research programme. Perhaps best known is his work on expanded austenite. He was one of the first to reveal the true nature of this unstable solid solution, which was before confusingly called “S-phase”. He became a world leading scientist in this area and dominates the corresponding literature until today. A red thread through Somers’ scientific work is gas-metal interactions in surface engineering and gaseous corrosion along with microstructure characterization with light and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, particularly residual stress determination, spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Furthermore, his interests encompass martensitic transformations at cryogenic temperatures and thermodynamics and diffusion modelling. His work is of fundamen- tal character with a technological importance and spin-off for industrial application. Marcel Somers is an enthusiastic educator in physical metallurgy, materials characterization and surface engineering and has co-authored about 300 contributions in international journals, conference proceedings and chapters in books. He is co-editor of the comprehensive book “Thermochemical Surface Engineering of Steels”. Moreover, he is co-inventor of 12 patents, all of which have been implemented in industrial applications, and co-founder of the industrial spin-outs Expanite and TRD Surfaces. Somers has a keen interest in practical applications of his scientific work. This is not only i llustrated by his twelve patents, but also by his activity as co-founder, together with collaborators from his group, of two industrial spin-outs “Expanite” and “TRD Surfaces”. He was awarded the Brandsma prize (1989); ASM European Lecturer (1999); Reinholdt W. Jorck prize (2001); DTU's innovation prize (2007); Alex Foss gold medal for rewarding contributions to engineering sciences (2014) and is Fellow of ASM International (2016). He is an elected member of the Danish Society for Technical Sciences (ATV) since 1999 and was chairman of the Danish Research Council for Technology and Production Sciences (FTP) from 2007 to 2009.

Medal presented at the 23rd Congress, Savannah GA, USA, April 2016

Born in Kenya, and of Indian descent, Harry Bhadeshia moved to the UK in the 1970s. He graduated in 1976 at the City of London Polytechnic and obtained his doctorate at the University of Cambridge in 1979 for work on the theory and significance of retained austenite in steels. He worked as a UK Science Research Council Research Fellow until 1981 when he moved back to the University of Cambridge. He has remained there since, but he has worked also with British Steel (now Tata Steel Europe) on a carbide-free, silicon-rich bainitic steel for rails in the Channel Tunnel and with the British Ministry of Defence on high-performance armour steel. He has received several awards of the UK IOM3 including the Bessemer Gold Medal. In 2008, he became the first Tata Steel Professor of Metallurgy and in 2009 he established, and took the lead at, the new SKF University Technology Centre, to conduct research on the physical metallurgy of bearing steels. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and of the Academy of Engineering of the UK.

Medal presented at the 19th Congress, Glasgow, Scotland October 2011

George Totten’s scientific and technical credentials are self-evident from the literature and from the extensive contributions he has made, and continues to make, in the field of heat treatment and surface engineering, especially in the critical and difficult area of quenching. George’s sound ‘chemistry viewpoint’ has been particularly noteworthy and valuable. When George was made a Fellow of IFHTSE at the 15th Congress in Vienna, Austria in 2005, the citation encapsulated the nature of his contribution to progress: ‘In recognition of his extensive contribution, over many years, to the global spread of knowledge of heat treatment process development especially in the field of quenching, to the understanding of process chemistry, and recently to the better and more widespread use of modelling and simulation.’ A vital characteristic is his ability to look outwards, not only to see ‘who is doing what?’ but also to identify what is needed. In all his actions he demonstrates great energy and enthusiasm, constant willingness to listen to the ideas and needs of others, and an easygoing and productive sociability. He is not, however, a man to accept anything at face value or because it may be ‘traditional’ - he is always ready to challenge for the sake of doing things better or of responding to differing circumstances. He is known for basing his views on integrity rather than received wisdom or doctrine. George, a prominent and popular figure on the international conference scene is always good natured and friendly and has built a reputation for being approachable. He is always making new friends and cementing ties with old ones. More than that, he is admired by many for his ready help, support and guidance in their professional development. As President of IFHTSE for the two-year period 2002-2003, he was provocative and challenging, but as a result, always a positive and productive leader. He has had a very strong influence on ensuring that good contributions to progress and knowledge transfer globally are identified and integrated – especially notable have been his contacts and interactions with organisations and individuals in China, Japan and Latin America. He has been an essential and key performer in the two series of international conference ‘Quenching and distortion control’ originally launched by ASM in 1992, and ‘Modelling and simulation in heat treatment and surface engineering’ which began in China in 2000. George received his BS and MS degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and his PhD from New York University. In addition, George is a Fellow of ASM International, SAE International, IFHTSE, ASTM International, and he is a Founding Fellow of AMME (World Academy of Materials Manufacturing Engineering). Since his retirement from 32 years with Union Carbide Corporation) George has been a Visiting Research Professor at Portland State University, Portland OR and he is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University in College Station TX and a Visiting Professor at the University of São Paulo in São Carlos SP, Brazil. He is also president of G.E. Totten & Associates LLC, Seattle WA, a research and consulting firm specializing in Thermal Processing and Industrial Lubrication problems. George has received various awards throughout his career, some of which include: ACS Outstanding Chemistry Student Award - 1970; Union Carbide Corporate Fellow Outstanding Technologist Award - 1994; ASTM Excellence in Symposium and Publication Management - 1997; Honorary Member of the Russian Metallurgists Association - 1998; ASTM Committee D-2 Award of Excellence - 2000; SAE McFarland Award - 2000; ASTM Committee D-2 Scroll of Achievement Award - 2004; ASTM Award of Merit - 2006; Honorary Member of the Shanghai Heat Treatment of Metals Society - 2006; Founding Fellow AMME (World Academy of Materials Manufacturing Engineering) - 2006; Bodeen Award - Heat Treating Society of ASM International - 2007; ASTM Dudley Award - 2008 In addition to these various activities, Dr. Totten is the author or co-author (editor) of approximately 600 publications including patents, technical papers, chapters and books. In addition to the now-classic Handbook of Quenchants and Quenching Technology (ASM International, 1992) which he co-authored with Prof. Charles Bates and Dr. Nye Clinton. George recently co-edited two recent books on quenching: Quenching Theory and Technology 2 edn (CRC Press, 2010) with Prof. Bozidar Liščić, Prof. Hans M. Tensi, Prof. Lauralice C.F. Canale and Intensive Quenching Systems: Engineering and Design (ASTM International, 2010) with Dr. Nikolai Kobasko, Dr. Michael Aronov and Joseph Powell. George was born in Toledo OH in 1945.

Medal presented at the Conference ‘Reducing energy consumption in heat and thermal treatment technologies and installations’, Brașov Poiana, Romania, November 2010

The award recognises Professor Mittemeijer’s contributions to global knowledge transfer in heat treatment, especially in nitriding and nitrocarburising, as well as in the field of phase transformations in both ferrous and non-ferrous alloys. Eric Mittemeijer graduated from Delft Technical University in 1972 after studying chemical technology and specialising in physical chemistry. He gained his PhD after study at the Foundation for Fundamental Research of Matter in 1978. Thereafter he returned to Delft as the deputy leader of the group Heat Treatment Science of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Alloys. In 1985, at the age of 35, he was appointed to the departmental chair of Physical Chemistry of the Solid State. After a short period as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Materials Science, he moved to Stuttgart in 1998 to his present position as Director at the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart and Full Professor (chair holder) at the Institute for Materials Science at the University of Stuttgart. His specialist ‘chemical viewpoint’ has yielded broadly based contributions to the field of heat treatment of immense significance for the advancement of the understanding and control of the processes. Since his move in 1998 to Stuttgart, he has founded and led the Phase Transformations department at the Max Plank Institute for Metals Research. He has built up a multidisciplinary team of 40-45 people of diverse nationalities, using an extensive range of equipment for X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning Auger microscopy, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, ellipsometry; calorimetry and dilatometry. Appropriately, his expertise has ensured that the department's contributions have been in the field of phase transformations in solid materials. Using a cutting-edge experimental approach, important contributions have been made to the development of models for phase transformations. These models apply not only to bulk but also to nano-scale materials, and are intended to be of practical value in optimising material properties by controlling the material microstructure, as well as providing insight into the fundamentals. He has, of course, published widely and has more than 550 papers to his name. He also serves on the editorial boards of many journals and has been centrally involved in the planning of many conferences and the publication of their proceedings. He was editor of ‘Diffraction Analysis of the Microstructure of Materials’ (Springer, 2004) and, significantly, co-editor of the ‘European White Book on Fundamental Research in Materials Science’ (2001) which played a major role in the formulation of the EU 6th Framework Programme. In 2010 he was appointed Managing Editor of International Journal of Materials Research. He contributes to the work and activities of national and international societies: he was co-founder and President of the Dutch/Belgian Heat Treatment Society, co-founder and President of the (Dutch) Society of Metals, member of the Board of the Heat Treating Society of ASM International, member of the International Center for Diffraction Data (ICDD), chairman of the AWT working group on Nitriding and Nitrocarburizing. From 1998 to 2004 he was Chairman of the European Powder Diffraction Committee (EPDIC). He was a key member of the organising committees for the 10th and 11th IFHTSE Congresses (Brighton UK 1996, and Florence, Italy 1998, respectively). He has received many honours for this work, including: Fellowship of ASM International, ASM European Lecturer 1991-92, Jacob Wallenberg Award of the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences of Sweden (1993), Honorary President of the Dutch-Belgian Society of Heat Treatment (1996), Honorary Member of the Netherlands Society of Metals (1998) and Honorary Professor, Tianjin University (2006). His work is widely recognised by industry, and he has been a member of the Supervisory Board of, and an advisor to SKF Engineering & Research Centre BV, and SKF Engineering & Research Services BV. Among his areas of activity are: phase transformations, thermodynamics and kinetics, development and relaxation of stress and phase transformations in thin (multi)layers, and nitriding and nitrocarburizing of ferrous materials. Further, he is Speaker of the International Max Planck Research School on Advanced Materials (IMPRSAM; at the moment about 35 Ph.D. students, 75% are of foreign origin), and ‘Studiendekan’ (responsible for the teaching and the development of a new Bachelor/Master programme on Materials Science) and chairman of the Board of Examinations for the Study of Materials Science (Werkstoffwissenschaft) at the University of Stuttgart. Mittemeijer was born in 1950 in Haarlem, Netherlands.

Medal presented at the 17th Congress in Kobe, Japan October 2008

Professor Maki’s significant contribution to the development of materials science in the context of heat treatment and surface engineering is represented by his research on the principles of microstructure evolution by phase transformation, precipitation, deformation and recrystallization in ferrous and titanium alloys from a number of viewpoints especially thermodynamics, kinetics, crystallography. Of particular note is his work on the microstructure and properties of martensite and bainite in steels through systematic examination of the morphology and internal structure of martensite in alloy steels. He successfully clarified the principle behind thin-plate martensite morphology which led to development of a ferrous alloy with superior shape memory effect. Further, his study on bainite transformation has contributed significantly in the understanding of its transformation mechanism. Equally important is his work on grain refinement of steels and titanium alloys through thermomechanical processing. He obtained submicron sized ferrite grains in high carbon steels with high strength and good ductility. He has also investigated hot/warm deformation structures and achieved high strain rate superplasticity in duplex stainless steels by dynamic continuous recrystallization producing high-angle boundaries capable of grain boundary sliding. His achievements have been recognized in many awards, including the Nishiyama Award from the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (ISIJ), the Honda Memorial Lecture Award from the Japan Institute for Metals (JIM) both in 2007, the Hayashi Memorial Prize from the Japan Society for Heat Treatment and best paper awards from ISIJ, JIM and the UK Insti- tute of Materials Minerals and Mining. He has contributed significantly to professional associations in the metals and heat treating industries, most notably as Vice President of the Japan Society for Heat Treatment (2001-2003), and President of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan (2002-2004).

Medal presented at the 16th Congress in Brisbane, Australia, October 2007

George Krauss’ contributions to education and research in the metallurgical and materials engineering community are extensive and significant at all levels. Foremost, he is a teacher’s teacher, committed to educating new metallurgical engineers and the continuing updating of practising engineers. In addition to the numerous students he has influenced over the years, his teaching accomplishments are most obvious in his classic textbook ‘Steels – processing, structure, and performance’. This text, along with his numerous other publications, has formed the basis of many courses. His educational efforts have been recognised in many teaching awards, including the Albert Easton White Award from ASM in 1999. His vision for the steel industry led to the development of the Advanced Steel Processing and Products Research Center in 1984, an industry/university cooperative that continues today as the most successful programme of its kind in the world. Research in the centre emphasises heat treating and surface processing of steels. His research on steels is extensive. Of particular note is his work on the relationship between microstructure and properties of low-temperature tempered high-carbon steels. This research refined the understanding of the fracture behaviour of martensitic steels, critical to the understanding of the fracture behaviour of carburised steels. The research also led to new alloying and process methods that have been adopted globally. His achievements have been recognised in several awards, including the Adolf Martens Medal for 1990 and the Edward DeMille Campbell Memorial Lecture Award from ASM in 2000. He is a Fellow of ASM, a Distinguished Member of the Iron and Steel Society of AIME, and an Honorary Member of the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan. He has contributed significantly to professional associations in the metals and heat treating industries, most notably as President 1989-90 of the International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering, of which he is a Fellow, and as President of ASM International.

Medal presented at the 15th Congress, Vienna, September 2006

Primarily, the award recognised the enormous contribution made by Wyss to international communication and collaboration through his seminal work as the Secretary of IFHTSE from its foundation in 1971-72 until 1988. In that period, and especially in the early days, his dedication, charm and easy ability in German, French and English ensured a successful launch for the Federation. He wrote the constitution, inspired the early meetings, encouraged his collaborators and fostered fruitful East-West relations. Without him, it is unlikely that the venture would have been so fruitful. Wyss combined his organisational and administrative skills with a successful materials engineering career in industry. Originally graduating in chemistry before he was 20, he began work in 1939 at Von Roll-Stahlwerke, Gerlafingen, where he concentrated on steel hardenability and hardenability testing. In 1952 he moved to Maag Zahnräder AG, Zürich. As manager of the metallurgical laboratory and heat treatment workshop, he led the development of the “Eintropfverfahren” technology (a drip-feed method using liquid hydrocarbons). Known commercially as the Carbomaag Process it brought him many international patents. Significant publications resulted from his industrial work and he was a frequent contributor to AWT’s Wiesbaden Härterei-Kolloquium and other conferences. In 1982, AWT of Germany awarded him the Adolf Martens medal. He was President of the Swiss Society for Heat Treatment in 1953, when he was only 30, and was appointed Honorary President in 1972. He is also an Honorary Member of the Association Technique de Traitement Thermique (ATTT), France. He is Honorary President of IFHTSE.

Medal presented at the 14th Congress, Shanghai, October 2004

This first award of the Medal recognised a wide and multidisciplinary range of globally visible contributions, over more than 30 years, to heat treatment and surface engineering. Bell influenced progress from the viewpoints of materials science, materials engineering, design engineering, tribology, economics, and environmentally benign process development. He was one of the originators of the concept and term ‘surface engineering’ and remains one of its foremost promoters. In academic life his effective teaching has produced graduates now contributing to progress in this field in many countries. In addition to his contributions to IFHTSE over many years, particularly as a member of its Executive Committee, Bell was twice President – for 1983-1984 and for 2000-2001. He was appointed Fellow of IFHTSE in 2003.

The medals are generously provided by SC Plasmaterm SA, Romania.

The IFHTSE Fellowship recognises individuals who have made outstanding and significant contributions to the development of heat treatment or surface engineering. These may be
– achievements in research and development,
– in publishing and publicity,
– in forming or leading the HTSE community in a specific field or geographic region,
– in teaching and recruiting young talents for HTSE,
– or a leading role in an activity of the Federation,
– or a substantial support for the Federation,
– or a successful representation of the Federation as an ambassador to a specific community.

List of IFHTSE Fellows

Tdis Award is given for the best paper from a young author presented at the IFHTSE World Congress. It consists in the invitation for free participation at the next IFHTSE World Congress. The award covers economy class transport, accomodation, and participation fee. The award is named in honour of the late Prof. Tom Bell of the University of Birmingham, twice IFHTSE President, IFHTSE Fellow and IFHTSE Medalist.

To be eligible for the TBYAA, the author must

• be under 35 years of age on the last day of the World Congress,
• register for the award when submitting the paper to the World Congress,
• submit the full paper not later than a month before the event
• and present the paper in person at the World Congress.

The awards were sponsored until 2019 by

YearGiven NameFamily NameAffiliationCountryTitle of the Paper
2024Ellen K.TroyanskiWorcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MAUSASub-zero Treatment of 17-4PH Stainless Steel Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF)
2023NikiNouriKarlsruhe Institute of TechnologyGermanyTailored Hardness Profiles Through a Combination of Specialized PBF-LB Processing Strategies with Subsequent Heat Treatment for Graded High-strength Components Made of Maraging Steel
2022Pedro Joséde CastroLeibniz-IWTGermanyEnergy efficient manufacturing chain for advanced bainitic steels based on thermo-mechanical processing
2022SimonaKresserUpper Austria University of Applied SciencesAustriaThe Effect of Cooling Rate on Quenching & Partitioning (Q&P) in Martensitic Stainless Steels
2019RiyanaAbleyevaMoscow State University of Technology StankinRussiaInvestigation of structure and properties from aluminum matrix composite materials produced by selective laser melting
2018LiangWuChongqing UniversityChinaFabrication and Characterisation of Layered Double Hydroxide Films by Conversion of MAO coatings on Magnesium Alloys
2017MehdiKhalloufiCemef Mines ParistechFranceSimulation of turbulent boiling with phase change and industrial steel quenching processes
2016MatteoVillaTechnical University of DenmarkDenmarkThe sub-zero Celsius treatment of stainless steels: experiments and perspective
2015GundisGrumbtTU Bergakademie FreibergGermanyElectron beam hardening of PVD-coated steels - improved load-supporting for Ti1-xAlxN layers capacity
2014TobiasSteinerMax Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, StuttgartGermanyInternal nitriding of Fe-Cr-Mo alloys; Nitride precipitation
2012XiaoyueJinCollege of Nuclear Science and TechnologyChinaCharacterization of wear-resistant coatings on 304 stainless steel fabricated by cathodic plasma electrolytic oxidation
2011MasakiTanakaKyushu UniversityJapanThe Brittle-To-Ductile Transition in High-Nitrogen Austenitic Stainless Steels
2010Rafael AgnelliMesquitaUniversidade Nove de Julho, São PaoloBrasilA Complete Model for the Effect of Si on the Secondary Hardening and Mechanical Properties of Hot Work Tool Steels
2008MariannLovonyakMaterials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH, Leoben 8700, Austria AustriaInfluence of Si on the Nitriding Behavior of Hot Work Tool Steels
2007ImreFeldeBay Zoltan Institute for Materials Sciences and Technology, BudapestHungaryCharacterisation of hardening performance of quenchants by integrated numerical methods
2000ArnimKüperStiftung Institut für Werkstofftechnik, Bremen GermanyPlasma-assisted boronising using trimethyl borate
1998BerndReinholdTechnical University FreibergGermanyPlasma nitriding of aluminium alloys
1996M.C.NestlerSulzerMetco (Deutschland) GmbHGermanyProduction of duplex coatings through process combination thermal spraying / nitriding
1994MichaelLohrmannDaido Steel Co Ltd Research and Development, Nagoya JapanSupercarburising characteristics and fatigue properties of chromium bearing steels

This Award is given for outstanding papers from a young author presented at the IFHTSE Congress. It consists in the free participation at the next IFHTSE Congress. The award covers the participation fee. To be eligible for the IFHTSE Congress Scholarship, the author must


• be under 35 years of age on the last day of the Congress,
• register for the award when submitting the paper to the Congress,
• submit the full paper not later than a month before the event
• and present the paper in person at the Congress.

YearGiven NameFamily NameAffiliationCountryTitle of the Paper
2024MitchellShieldsColorado School of MinesUSAEffects of Thermal Processing History on Microstructure and Local Hardness in a Bainitic TRIP Steel
2024BenjaminDollhoferKarlsruhe Institute of TechnologyGermanyCharacterization of martensitic-bainitic mixed microstructures created by inductive short time austempering of AISI 4140
2023DanielDavidUpper Austria University of Applied SciencesAustriaInfluence of Alloying Elements on the Transformation Behavior of Medium Manganese Steels
2023BenjaminDollhoferKarlsruhe Institute of TechnologyGermanyImprovement of an Electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical Coupled Simulation for the Optimization of Complex Processes in Induction Hardening

Honorary Presidents have rendered outstanding and continuous service to the Federation over many years, not necessarily as President. They have given the Federation its shape and standing in their time and have enlarged its scope, initiated new activities, or renewed and reinforced its structure and been the face of the Federation for the public.

One of the most valuable achievements of IFHTSE over the years has been the development of fruitful and mutually beneficial personal contact in groups of leading figures in industry and academic life, among widely differing political regimes, and through some difficult and often dangerous times.

Zoltán Kolozsváry has provided outstanding leadership in this respect for several decades, beginning in the 1970s. His multilingual abilities (he will happily communicate in his native Hungarian and Romanian as well as in English and German) have always ensured a good level of understanding in many meetings. For example, after the changes in the USSR/Russia he was central to the restoration of active Russian contributions to IFHTSE, and membership of the Russian Heat Treating Society to IFHTSE.

Dr. Kolozsváry participated in his first international conference held in Switzerland 1968. He attended many meetings and conferences of the International Federation for Heat Treatment (IFHT) from the beginning of the Federation (1971) and he has represented Romania in the Federation from 1986.

He became IFHTSE President in 1998 and Treasurer of the Federation in 2001, which duty he served until 2016. He became a Fellow of IFHTSE in 2007. He was the project leader for the IFHTSE initiative “Global 21”, a survey on the state of the art and expected development trends in heat treatment and surface engineering in the early years of the 21st century.

Dr. Kolozsváry was born in 1937 in Târgu Mureș, Romania. He graduated with honors from the Technical University of Bucharest in 1959. He started to work in the machine factory „Encsel Mór” (Târgu Mureș) as trainee and soon became the head of the Heat Treatment workshop. In 1963, he was commissioned to build a nitriding furnace and technology for large parts used for knitting machines. This development has ultimately determined his professional and scientific career where he focused on the effect of nitriding technology (salt bath and atmosphere treatments) on the wear of steel parts. He defended his doctoral dissertation in 1970. The year after, he was nominated to establish a Romanian Research Institute for Heat Treatments and Surface engineering. His patents on gas nitriding have been used by several companies related to the German vehicle industry and his company “Plasmatherm” is well noted for plasma nitriding for many different applications. In 1973 he was invited to Liverpool University as a visiting researcher by Professor Tom Bell. He became the scientific director of the institute “Metalotehnica” 1976.

He has published more than 200 scientific and technological papers in 8 languages, several chapters in Metal Handbooks, ASM Handbooks and Handbook of Residual Stress and Deformation.

From the foundation of the then IFHT 1971/72, Urs Wyss served as Secretary of the then IFHT until 1988. In that period, and especially in the early days, his dedication, charm and easy ability in German, French and English ensured a successful launch for the Federation. He wrote the constitution, inspired the early meetings, encouraged his collaborators and fostered fruitful East-West relations. Without him, it is unlikely that the venture would have been so fruitful.

Wyss combined his organisational and administrative skills with a successful materials engineering career in industry. As manager of the metallurgical laboratory and heat treatment workshop of Maag Zahnräder AG, Zürich, he developed a drip-feed technology using liquid hydrocarbons (Carbomaag) which brought him many international patents. Significant publications and conference contributions resulted from his industrial work.

In 1982, AWT awarded him the Adolf Martens medal. He was President of the Swiss Society for Heat Treatment in 1953, when he was only 30, and was appointed their Honorary President in 1972. He was also an Honorary Member of the Association Technique de Traitement Thermique (ATTT), France. In 2006 he was awarded the IFHTSE Medal.

As early as 1970, in the preparation meeting for the foundation of the then IFHT, Dr. Meyer, director of Climax Molybdenum, Zurich, Switzerland, took the active role of Chairman of the Founding Committee and was subsequently President until 1974.

Honorary Vice Presidents have supported the Federation continuously as valid partners and friends over many years while they served in functions of other associations or companies.

“Professor Tamura, elected as Vice-President in 1990, had reluctantly decided that, for health reasons, he would be unable to take office as President of IFHT for the period 1992-1993. In recognition of Professor Tamura’s work on behalf of IFHT, the Executive Committee unanimously recommended his appointment as Honorary (life) Vice-President. The Governing Council approved this with acclamation and Professor Tamura accepted the honour.”

(From the minutes of the Governing Council Assembly 1992 in Kyoto, Japan)

“He (the President) also placed on record the Governing Council’s gratitude to the organisers of the Chicago Congress in general, and the generous hospitality of Mr Bodeen in particular. He reported the award of a commemorative document to Mr Bodeen”

(From the minutes of the Governing Council Assembly 1989 in Lisbon, Portugal)

Given for the best talk at an IFHTSE conference in Europe

• by a speaker under 35 years of age on the 1st day of the conference
• on an issue of high scientific or commercial relevance
• with implication for the industrial practice
• in a clear and comprehensible fashion
• accompanied by concise and plausible visualization
• with poised and competent answers to any questions from the audience.

Year Conference Given NameFamily NameAffiliationCountryTitel of the Paper
20244th Mediterranean Conference on HTSEAlessandraPalombiUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”Italy"Low temperature plasma assisted carburizing of 3D printed 316 L stainless steel"
20212nd QDE, onlineOgün BarisTaparIWTGermany"Time-resolved investigations during low pressure carburizing by means of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction"
20163rd International Conference on HTSE in Automotive ApplicationsMaximilianWalterRuhr-UniversityGermany"An investigation of the tribological behavior of high-speed tool steels at elevated temperatures"

Best Poster Awards given at IFHTSE Congresses

28th IFHTSE Congress Yokohama, Japan, 2023:

Koki Matsumoto, Kyoto Institute of Technology
Masaki Kuribayashi, Kansai University
Sien Liu, The University of Tokyo
Chun-Yin Lin, Tatung University, Taipei

Sponsored by

Japan Metal Heat Treatment Industry Association

27th IFHTSE Congress Salzburg, Austria, 2022:

Anupama Kashyap, IIT Roorkee, India
Darko Landek, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Jiaxin PENG, Kansai University, Japan
Edgar Scherleitner, Research Center for Non Destructive Testing, Austria

Sponsored by

22nd IFHTSE Congress Venice, Italy, 2015:

Anke Dalke, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
Dennis Formosa, University of Birmingham, Great Britain
Mahdi Soltani, Università di Brescia, Italy

21st IFHTSE Congress Munich, Germany, 2014:

Dr Anja Buchwalder, Bergakademie TU Freiberg, Germany
Tobias Steiner, Robert Bosch GmbH, Germany,
(who won also the TBYAAin the same event)
Prof. Masahiro Okumiya, Toyota Technological Institute, Japan

Sponsored by