Farewell to Eckhard Rimpel as he enters (non)retirement, and a warm welcome to his successor, Klaus Nelskamp
Even before completing his degree in process engineering—with a focus on industrial furnace construction and thermal engineering—at the Technical University of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Eckhard Rimpel had already come into contact with the Riedel counter-flow kiln and the retrofitting of a tunnel kiln at a clinker plant, thus gaining first experiences in the brick industry. After completing his studies and a brief “detour” into boiler and storage tank development, he was drawn back to the brick industry and began his career in October 1986 at the Institute for Brick Research (IZF), to which he would remain loyal for over 39 years.
With his consistently approachable, open manner and his technical expertise, Eckhard Rimpel succeeded in winning the trust of brickmakers—regardless of whether they were a medium-sized family business or a large corporation. His successful and practical collaboration with clients, along with his openness to addressing all challenges in brick production and accommodating manufacturers’ individual needs, made Eckhard Rimpel a valued partner for the brickmakers collaborating with the IZF. Personal relationships and networks were always the be-all and end-all for Eckhard Rimpel. He led the IZF to membership in the Business Network Ruhr and into a partnership with the Cluster for the Decarbonization of Industry (CDI). Together with his colleague Annette Ilg-Muhlack, he secured the IZF’s admission as a member of the Konrad Zuse German Industrial Research Association. He served with great dedication as a member of the Environmental Committee and the Research Association of the Federal Association of the German Brick Industry. He is also an individual member of the VDI/DIN Commission for Clean Air (KrdL).
Eckhard Rimpel held various positions at the IZF with great passion, initially as head of the Process Engineering Department, which was later expanded to become the Department of Environmental and Process Engineering. The highlight of his career was his appointment as Deputy Director of the IZF in 2017.
In addition to his scientific work, Eckhard Rimpel traveled to 28 countries as part of his consulting and expert witness activities, whether in the context of development aid projects funded by the German or Swiss governments or as an expert witness in arbitration proceedings. In this way, the IZF has become a household name worldwide. Through his even-tempered nature and tireless dedication, he helped shape staff members and colleagues into a highly motivated and cohesive team.
After nearly four decades, Eckhard Rimpel will retire from the IZF at the end of June 2026. His expertise will be missed by the Institute’s staff and the brick makers as well. But he will certainly be available to offer advice and assistance for any questions that may arise, even if the golf course is calling.
The staff and the IZF Board of Directors thank Eckhard Rimpel for his dedication and wish him all the best and much joy in his well-deserved (non-)retirement!
At the same time, we are pleased to welcome a brickmaker in our ranks as his successor, Mr. Klaus Nelskamp. As a member of a family of brickmakers, he was born with an understanding of clay and brickmaking and possesses extensive experience in production as well. He will follow in Eckhard Rimpel’s big footsteps and, together with the entire IZF team, will be at your side to assist with any questions you may have.
