German Association of Sugar Technologists

The Verein Deutscher Zuckertechniker (VDZ), or German Association of Sugar Technologists, is a professional and scientific association for chemists and engineers working in and supporting the sugar industry. Founded in Berlin in 1891 as the Association of Academically Trained Sugar Technologists, it adopted its current name in 1898 under the leadership of Dr Hermann Claassen. With approximately 600 members, over 15% of whom live outside Germany, it is the largest scientific-technical organization for sugar technologists in Europe. The association's purpose is to promote scientific, technical and practical work in sugar technology by bringing together professionals for mutual benefit, and to further the training of the next generation of technologists. It pursues these aims through meetings, publications, prize competitions, encouragement of experiments on important scientific and technical questions, and awards for valuable papers published in the journal Sugar Industry (Zuckerindustrie). The VDZ is organized into three branch associations—North, Centre and South—and is led by an executive committee comprising the chairman, the chairs of the three branches, the secretary-treasurer and deputy, and a member from the equipment industry. Its annual general meeting, held each May in the week before Ascension, is the most important annual technical sugar conference in Europe. The association also maintains a technical terminology committee, established in 1969, which defines uniform technical terms in German and, in cooperation with foreign members, in twelve additional languages. Internationally, the VDZ has long-standing relations with sugar technology organizations in the USA and Canada, and cooperates with European bodies such as STC and VDI. It is a founding member of the European Society for Sugar Technology (ESST), established in 2007 as a successor to the CITS (Commission Internationale Technique du Sucre, founded 1949). Together with ESST, the VDZ has organized the ESST Conference every two years since 2009. The association is a member of the German Federation of Technical and Scientific Associations (Deutscher Verband Technisch-Wissenschaftlicher Vereine).

The Verein Deutscher Zuckertechniker was founded in Berlin in 1891 on the initiative of Professor Alexander Herzfeld, director of the Berlin Sugar Industry Institute, under the name "Association of Academically Trained Sugar Technologists." The following year, the internationally known sugar technologist Dr Hermann Claassen was elected chairman. Thanks to his initiative, the association received its present name and underwent substantial development. At the time of its creation, around 400 sugar factories existed in Germany. Distance hindered the work of the association, and beginning in 1894, branch associations were established in various parts of the country. Prior to World War I, there were ten such branch associations, including an international one with members throughout Europe and overseas. In those days, the association also helped its members find jobs and assisted them in times of need. From the beginning, the association has encouraged its members to submit and publish scientific studies in the fields of sugar chemistry and sugar technology through the award of monetary prizes on the recommendation of a technical committee. Following World War II, the association was re-established in 1948, and it is now a member of the German Federation of Technical and Scientific Associations. The business of the association is conducted by an executive committee composed of the chairman, the chairs of the three branch associations (North, Centre and South), the secretary-treasurer and his/her deputy, as well as a member from the equipment industry. Since 1969, the association has had a technical terminology committee with several working groups tasked with laying down uniform, technically correct terms, not only in German but also in twelve other languages in cooperation with foreign members. The association's annual general meeting is held each May in the week before Ascension and is the most important annual technical sugar conference in Europe. The VDZ is internationally oriented and has maintained relations with other sugar technology organizations, for example in the USA and Canada. It is open to European countries and cooperates with other technical-scientific organizations such as STC and VDI. The VDZ is a founding member of the European Society for Sugar Technology (ESST), established in 2007 as a successor to the CITS (Commission Internationale Technique du Sucre, founded 1949). Together with ESST, the VDZ has organized the ESST Conference every two years since 2009.

• 2009

  First ESST Conference co-organized with ESST; held every two years thereafter.

• 2007

  Founding member of the European Society for Sugar Technology (ESST).

• 1969

  Technical terminology committee established.

• 1948

  Association re-established after World War II.

• 1894

  Branch associations begin to be established across Germany.

• 1892

  Dr Hermann Claassen elected chairman; association receives its present name.

• 1891

  Founded in Berlin as the Association of Academically Trained Sugar Technologists on the initiative of Alexander Herzfeld.

Europe's largest scientific-technical organization for sugar technologists, promoting science, technology and training in the sugar industry.

1. 1German Association of Sugar Technologists – Official Websitezuckertechniker.de
2. 2History – German Association of Sugar Technologistszuckertechniker.de
3. 3Verein Deutscher Zuckertechniker – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
4. 4Verein Deutscher Zuckertechniker – Wikidatawikidata.org