Dr. Markus Dahlhaus, Managing Director of the BIA Group in Solingen, celebrated his 60th birthday on 11 September 2024. The doctor of electrochemistry has been involved in surface technology for many years and is also active in various organizations in the industry.
After graduating in chemistry in Münster in 1990, he completed his doctorate in 1993 at the University of Duisburg under Professor Beck in the field of deposition of conductive polymers. Dr. Dahlhaus gained his first industrial experience at ZVO member Metakem, where he developed a new process for the deposition of platinum on titanium. In November 1995, he moved to HSO Herbert Schmidt in Solingen, where he was initially responsible for development and then for the entire technology until 2002. He was involved in the development of processes for electroplating technology, in particular cathodic and decorative corrosion protection and plastic electroplating. During this time, Dr. Dahlhaus also joined the DGO and several committees within the association. He headed the predecessor organization of the automotive department in the ZVO and was a member of the VDA surface technology working group. During this time, important foundations for the IMDS (International Material Data System) were laid in cooperation with the VDA. From 2002 to January 2011, Dr. Dahlhaus worked first as Marketing Manager Automotive Industry, then as Marketing Director Europe. During this time, in addition to the introduction of improved direct metallization, many fundamental developments for the elimination of chromium(VI) in the industry were made. For example, chromium(III)-based "passivations" were introduced in the association.
Dr. Dahlhaus has been one of the three managing directors of the BIA Group since February 2011. During this time, the company expanded into China (first Beijing, then Wuxi), Slovakia (Nitra) and Mexico (San Luis Potosi), which he helped to drive forward by planning and supporting the expansion. He was also always interested in the introduction of chromium(III) processes for decorative chrome plating. He closely accompanied the benchmark and interlaboratory tests of the German Electroplated Plastics Association (FGK), which were published as part of the Chrome 2020/2030 conferences.
Markus Dahlhaus has been Chairman of the FGK since January 2023. In this role, together with the members of the ZVO Chemicals and Environmental Policy Department, he represents the plastics electroplating industry as well as other ZVO members in discussions with the ECHA, the Federal Environment Agency and other organizations on the topics of REACH, PFAS and IED. Markus Dahlhaus enjoys spending his free time with his family and friends. Sporting activities often take center stage.
Dr. Markus Dahlhaus is also the esteemed author of numerous specialist articles in Galvanotechnik and the Surface Technology Yearbook. Together with Felix Heinzler, he also writes in this issue about circular materials for chrome surfaces with functional integration (from p. 1287).
Dr. Dahlhaus has had a remarkable career at HSO and BIA, among others, since completing his doctorate in Duisburg in 1993. He has also been very active in associations and as an author of specialist articles
