Holger Lieberwirth is Director of the Institute of Mineral Processing Machines and Recycling Systems Technology (IART) at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, the oldest active mining school worldwide. Having graduated with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in the area of mining of mining machines he has hold engineering as well as management positions in companies such as thyssenkrupp, TAKRAF and Beumer. For about 25 years in industry, he collected hands-on experience in planning, designing, manufacturing and commissioning machines and systems in mining, materials handling and minerals processing in more than 50 countries worldwide before joining the university in 2013.
Holger pursues a holistic approach to efficient raw materials processing from mine face to concentrate. By quantifying mineral microstructures and material characteristics, most efficient stress methods are derived to liberate the valuables and the respective smart comminution machines and processes are shaped for ores, spars, salts as well as slags and secondary raw materials. Reducing energy and water consumption, as well as the amount of waste produced by applying smart machines and processes is in particular focus. Well-equipped laboratories with a wide variety of crushers, mills, screens, sifters and pelletizing/briquetting machines support the investigation even of bulk samples in this background.
