Author: Martin Moller

Rainer H÷fer is Vice-President (Emeritus) of Cognis Gmb H, Monheim, Germany. He has received the Henkel Innovation Award for Environmentally Benign Organic Specialty Chemicals, the Cognis Innovation Award for a new Star-polymer-based Defoamer Concept, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) Award for Environmentally Benign Surfactant-Systems based on Renewable Raw Materials, the Solvsafe Consortium Award for his Contribution to Sustainable Chemistry, and has close to 200 patents and published journal and book articles. Dr. H÷fer graduated in inorganic chemistry at G÷ttingen University. He spent three years at the Technical University of Oran (ENSEP), Algeria, as Ma¯tre de ConfÚrences and Directeur de l”Institut de Chimie before joining Henkel KGa A in D³sseldorf. With Henkel and Cognis he has assumed research and development, application technology, technical sales service, strategic business development and technology scouting responsibilities in oleochemistry, polymer chemistry and surfactant chemistry for the global polymerization, coatings, graphic arts, adhesives, engineering plastics, agrochemical, synthetic lubricants, and pulp & paper markets.