Prof. Wolfgang Scheel has long predicted the trend from the humble circuit board to a multifunctional component. Together with his team he began developing integration technologies for opto-electronic and high-frequency assemblies at a very early stage. His work resulted in a new generation of circuit boards. Apart from the electrical layers, one or more optical signal layers ("optofoil") were also integrated into the circuit-board laminate. Thus, Scheel became known as the father of the electrical optical circuit board (EOCB).

Now Prof. Scheel has passed the torch of Department Head on to Dr. Martin Schneider-Ramelow. Dr. Schneider-Ramelow studied Material Sciences and is a recognized expert on wire-bonding. Wolfgang Scheel, as Head of the Vision Research Group, will continue focusing on the future of assembly and interconnection technology of functional structures in electronics and microsystem technology, which has always been his key interest.

An honorary colloquium was held on 24.6.2008 at the Berlin Congress Hall to honor Prof. Scheel’s contribution to the institute and wish him well in his future research.