History

VDEh Institut für angewandte Forschung (VDEh Institute of Applied Research) was established in 1968 by merging two divisions, "Energy and Business Administration" (the Düsseldorf-based thermal engineering unit) and "Mechanical Engineering", of the German Iron and Steel Institute (VDEh). Karl-Heinz Mommertz was appointed its first director. However, the foundation of BFI as we know it today was not completed until 1971 when the institute was converted into a non-profit limited liability company. It was this change in legal form that finally enabled BFI to launch itself successfully in the private enterprise sector. The foundation was thus laid for a flexible organization characterized by its ability to process basic R&D findings into viable industrial solutions, thereby holding its own in the marketplace.

In 2008, VDEh Institut für angewandte Forschung Gmbh was renamed VDEh-Betriebsforschugsinstitut GmbH under its then General Manager, Dr. Carl-Dieter Wuppermann.

Three basic divisions (Iron and Steelmaking, Hot and Cold Rolling, and Steel Finishing & Application) and three interdisciplinary divisions (Process and Environmental Engineering, Energy and Heat Engineering, and Measuring Techniques and Quality Assurance) were set up in 2006, superseding the previous organisation of five main departments comprising up to 21 specialized sub-departments. Since 2009, Dr. Ralph Sievering has been serving as the institute`s general manager.

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