History of the Institute

From Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering to Innovative Machine Components and Computer-Aided Product Development

Professor Fritz Süchting had held the Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering since 1912. “What Professor Süchting found upon taking office was an empty room in the main building and a small endowment fund that was nearly depleted. […] Packed in a large wooden crate, the first item of inventory was a steam engine.” He advocated for practical training to take place in large laboratories. Through this, Süchting believed, “what was heard in lectures […] would become a living reality.” In 1929, the institute—later named after him—moved into its impressive new building. Between his appointment and this well-equipped building lay World War I and Professor Süchting’s extensive efforts.

The institute’s initial focus was on the functioning of mining and metallurgical machinery. Starting in the mid-1930s, “Electricity in Mining” was added to the curriculum.

Professor Bechtold, who had continued to lead the institute with dedication since 1938 following Professor Süchting’s retirement, was killed in October 1944 during an air raid in the Ruhr region. He had established numerous contacts with industry, enabling the institute to contribute to solving current problems.
Due to the tense situation in the Ruhr region, a department of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Iron Research had been evacuated from Düsseldorf to Clausthal in the summer of 1944.

From Professor Bechtold’s death until the end of the war, Professor Birckenbach had served as acting director of the institute. During the American occupation of Clausthal from April 13 to the end of May 1945, the lecture hall was used as a field hospital.

Starting on April 1, 1946, the institute’s affairs were provisionally managed by Dr.-Ing. Kienast and Dipl.-Ing. Gloeckner. On April 20, 1948, Professor Engel was appointed to the chair.

In addition to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering also gained increasing importance in the postwar period. This development was ultimately reflected in the reestablishment of the Institute of Electrical Engineering in 1960, which was further strengthened by the mechanical engineering program.

Professor Dietz, who took over the institute from Professor Kuske in 1980 (following Prof. Torke’s interim leadership), placed a strong emphasis on modern design theory in mechanical engineering.

Source: Engel, Ludolf: The Fritz-Süchting Institute for Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, in: Festschrift for the 175th Anniversary of the Clausthal Mining Academy 1775–1950, Clausthal-Zellerfeld 1950, pp. 184–194.

Today’s research and teaching at the IMW builds on this unique research infrastructure and addresses current issues in the design and configuration of machine elements, as well as processes, methods, and tools in modern product development.