Pump industry mourns death of expert
Professor Bernd Stoffel, a scientist and researcher on essential pump design, passed away on 8 June.
As a student and then post-graduate at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, he was actively involved in pre-competitive research as a project worker during the founding phase of the VDMA’s Pumps Research Fund.
In 1977 he switched from science to industry, joining KSB where he held several positions and management tasks in the key area of research and development.
The pump industry owes Prof Stoffel huge gratitude for some of the essential standards to which pump manufacturers worldwide follow today.
ISO 9906, a standard conceived more than 20 years ago, today still provides the basis for performance testing of pumps after a revision in 2012. Even after his retirement, Prof Stoffel remained active in the field of pumps.
Between 2006 and 2020, he found a new challenge with the European Commission's energy-saving requirements, to which his usual passion and meticulousness was dedicated.
Former president at Europump, Dr Sönke Brodersen, said: “I had the honour of knowing Prof Stoffel since early 1990, when I was a young engineer at KSB working directly with him on a European public funded research project. In my role as Chairman of VDMA Pumps+Systems Association and former Europump President, I cannot thank Prof. Stoffel enough for his truly outstanding contribution to our industry.”
Frank Ennenbach, chairman of Europump’s Standards Commission, added: “As is the case for many other engineers working in the pump industry today, I learned a great deal from Prof Stoffel, especially so whilst working closely with him on the EU’s requirement to assess and reduce the energy consumption of pumps. His expertise and enthusiasm helped to drive through the scientific work which formed the foundations of today’s energy efficiency protocols.
“However, quite apart from my admiration for his intellect, my most enduring memory of him will be of when we first met. It was during the Europump Annual Meeting in Stockholm in 1992. We had taken a cruise tour of the Stockholm archipelago, and he was standing on the open deck, smiling and very obviously enjoying life. That will be the way I will always remember him.”
As a student and then post-graduate at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, he was actively involved in pre-competitive research as a project worker during the founding phase of the VDMA’s Pumps Research Fund.
In 1977 he switched from science to industry, joining KSB where he held several positions and management tasks in the key area of research and development.
The pump industry owes Prof Stoffel huge gratitude for some of the essential standards to which pump manufacturers worldwide follow today.
ISO 9906, a standard conceived more than 20 years ago, today still provides the basis for performance testing of pumps after a revision in 2012. Even after his retirement, Prof Stoffel remained active in the field of pumps.
Between 2006 and 2020, he found a new challenge with the European Commission's energy-saving requirements, to which his usual passion and meticulousness was dedicated.
Former president at Europump, Dr Sönke Brodersen, said: “I had the honour of knowing Prof Stoffel since early 1990, when I was a young engineer at KSB working directly with him on a European public funded research project. In my role as Chairman of VDMA Pumps+Systems Association and former Europump President, I cannot thank Prof. Stoffel enough for his truly outstanding contribution to our industry.”
Frank Ennenbach, chairman of Europump’s Standards Commission, added: “As is the case for many other engineers working in the pump industry today, I learned a great deal from Prof Stoffel, especially so whilst working closely with him on the EU’s requirement to assess and reduce the energy consumption of pumps. His expertise and enthusiasm helped to drive through the scientific work which formed the foundations of today’s energy efficiency protocols.
“However, quite apart from my admiration for his intellect, my most enduring memory of him will be of when we first met. It was during the Europump Annual Meeting in Stockholm in 1992. We had taken a cruise tour of the Stockholm archipelago, and he was standing on the open deck, smiling and very obviously enjoying life. That will be the way I will always remember him.”
