From July 1 to 3, 2025, the Annual General Meeting of the Zellcheming Association took place at the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) in Wiesbaden, coinciding with the Zellcheming-Expo.
At the General Meeting on July 2, 2025, Dr.-Ing. Frank P. Meltzer of Mercer Pulp Sales GmbH was elected as the new Chairman of the Zellcheming Association.
He succeeds Prof. Dr. Helga Zollner-Croll of the Munich University of Applied Sciences on a rotating basis. Dr.-Ing. Tiemo Arndt of Reflex GmbH & Co. KG was elected as Deputy Chairman. Carsten Melchert was confirmed as Treasurer
In addition, the following individuals were confirmed or newly elected as members of the Zellcheming Advisory Board:
Re-elected as assessors: Prof. Dr. Helga Zollner-Croll (former president), Prof. Dr. Markus Biesalski, Andreas Jäger, Erich Kollmar, Gerrit Lund, Frank May, Prof. Dr. Frank Miletzky, Rosario Othen, Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Porkert, Alexander von Reibnitz, Xaver Weig, Prof. Dr. Markus Wildberger, and Dr.-Ing. Ernst-Ulrich Wittmann. The new members are Birgit Bläsing, Manfred Eberhardt, Falk Friedrich, Dr. Eva Nagy, and Victoria Scherzinger.
Main topics of the ZELLCHEMING association
Zellcheming is a platform that facilitates professional exchanges among individuals involved in developing and manufacturing sustainable paper and fiber-based products. Zellcheming also offers its members a variety of ways to get involved in the industry and maintain personal connections across generations.
Zellcheming is a link between scientific research and the manufacturing and marketing of paper and fiber-based products.
Our technical committees further develop technical topics and explore new areas that are growing in importance to the industry. By highlighting best practices and standardization work, Zellcheming promotes knowledge transfer within the association, research, and industry.
Sustainability
Climate change has become a key political issue. The core demand is to reduce greenhouse gases in a socially acceptable and effective manner. The Zellcheming association supports the paper and fiber-based industry in playing its role in the circular bioeconomy within the scope of its possibilities.
The association has set a goal to address key facets of sustainability in its internal work, both practically and thematically. Additionally, the association aims to actively communicate and represent the special relationship our industry has with sustainability to the outside world.
Promoting Young Talent
A particular focus is placed on promoting young talent through awards, scholarships, and financial and professional support.
Three years ago, the Zellcheming association created a platform for this. The Zellcheming Career Day took place on the third day of the trade fair. The program began with the presentation of the Zellcheming Young Talent Award 2025 to Felix Hiller and Tim Carstens. Then, the Science Flash provided insights into research on the production of pulp and paper-based products. Anna Lexa from Munich University of Applied Sciences won the award for the best presentation! A central component of the Zellcheming Career Day involved young visitors in a World Café. The working group discussions revolved around how to attract and retain young talent. The keywords presented in the subsequent summary included: appreciation, honest communication, and a modern corporate culture with suitable incentives.
From Frank Meltzer‘s perspective, the association is an active bridge builder. “We can only develop together as a society and as a paper and pulp industry. This is what we stand for as an association. This is what we promote at the Zellcheming-Expo, and we will continue to encourage networking and cooperation!”
