We, the Oldenburg-based company Löning & Partner, developed IQPAK® in close cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF in Darmstadt.
Löning & Partner was founded in 2006 by Johann A. Löning. We see ourselves as a think tank and are specialized in reverse logistics and the circular economy. We have made a name with the development of reverse vending machines that communicate with returned packaging. Since summer 2022, we have been putting our resources together to make IQPAK® market ready.
The “Plastics Processing and Component Design” department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF has provided pioneering support for the development of IQPAK®.
Under the leadership of Dr. Christian Beinert, it evaluated the reusable approach, and the Life-cycle assessment of the material used, as well as testing its suitability for implementation in large-scale production. The Fraunhofer Institute is also involved in the development of the container production and refurbishment machinery for IQPAK®.
The mastermind:
Johann A. Löning
Johann A. Löning is the idea generator, founder, entrepreneur, risk taker and marketing expert of IQPAK®.
The polymer expert:
Dr.-Ing. Christian Beinert
Dr. Christian Beinert is the head of Polymer Processing and Component Design Department at the Fraunhofer Institute LBF in Darmstadt. He has researched, accompanied and supported the development of IQPAK® from the very beginning.
Our network
A large network of experts from materials research, plastics processing, the circular economy, security technology, IT and software development, mechanical engineering and the legal sector supports and advises us in the development of IQPAK®.
Christian Y. Crepet
Public Affairs, Investor Relations, IQPAK® Partner
Christian Y. Crepet has worked for more than 20 years for professional and lobby associations in the plastics industry, most recently as Managing Director of the PET industry association “Petcore Europe”. The recycling pioneer has extensive knowledge of plastics such as HDPE, PP and PET.
He is responsible for investor and lobbying work for IQPAK®.
Jessika Grass
Contact agent
Jessika Grass is a health scientist and works as a prevention consultant at the AWO in Oldenburg.
She supports IQPAK® as a contact agent.
Dr. Susanne Guth-Orlowski
Advisor Digitization, IQPAK® partner
Dr. Susanne Guth-Orlowski is an expert in circular economy and digital product passports and advises the European Commission and the Global Battery Alliance, among others. With her IT background, she develops industry solutions for secure data transfer. She is co-founder of the “CircularTech Forum”.
She advises IQPAK® about the digitization of NFC technology.
Dr. Felix Harbsmeir
Patent Attorney
Dr. Felix Harbsmeir is a European and German patent attorney. As a partner at the law firm Bird&Bird in Hamburg, he works primarily in the fields of electronics, physics and mechanical engineering for large international companies.
He has obtained both the German and the European patent for IQPAK® and is currently handling the international patent application (PCT application).
Dipl.-Ing. Domenic Hartung
Mechanical Engineering
Domenic Hartung is a mechanical engineer specialized in the development of innovative hardware solutions. He works as a solution architect in hardware development at Wincor Nixdorf in Erfurt.
He supports IQPAK® with his know-how in the implementation of IQPAK®’s own machinery for recycling and refurbishment.
Dr.-Ing. Siegmar Hecht
Technology Research, Development Hardware & IP, IQPAK® partner
As a former employee of the Technical University of Ilmenau (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering), Dr. Siegmar Hecht is the technology expert at IQPAK® responsible for the development of electronic devices such as apps and databases.
He is entrusted with technology research, the development of IQPAK® machinery and the IP protection of electronic IQPAK® components.
Dipl.-Ing. Shilpa Khare
Team Leader at Fraunhofer LBF; Material Development
Shilpa Khare is a team leader in the “Preparation and Compounding Processes” department at Fraunhofer LBF. She leads research projects dealing with process improvement, low-emission plastics and plastics upcycling.
She supports IQPAK® regarding material and process development.
Dr. Roland Klein
Head of Department at Fraunhofer LBF; Material Development
Roland Klein is head of the Additivation and Durability department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF. He researches on bio-based raw materials, assesses industrial feasibility and develops practical solutions.
He advises IQPAK® regarding material development.
Ralf-Peter Klose
Public & Special Affairs
Ralf-Peter Klose is the founder and managing director of the recruitment consultancy Klose & Partner. He is a professional in the search and selection of specialists and executives and specializes in mechanical engineering and engineering professions.
At IQPAK® he is responsible for Public & Special Affairs. He is primarily responsible for human resources and lobbying.
Dipl.-Ing. Frank Linnekogel
Mechanical engineering
Frank Linnekogel is a mechanical engineer and managing director of the Linnekogel engineering office in Weimar. He develops and designs special machines and systems for industrial customers, but also supports his customers in industrial production planning and value analysis.
He supports IQPAK® in the development of its own machinery for recycling and refurbishment.
Dipl.-Ing. Tino Rhein
Database and App Developer, IQPAK® Partner
Tino Rhein is a graduate engineer for media technology and digital media. He works at the Technical University of Ilmenau in the patent management of the Thuringian universities.
As an IQPAK® partner, he is responsible for the development and implementation of the IQPAK® database and app as well as for all software issues.
Dipl.-Ing. Dettmar Rose
Ecology expert, IQPAK® partner
Dettmar Rose is a landscape architect and landscape conservation engineer. He has been involved in architectural, environmental protection and redevelopment projects in Germany and the Arab world of the Middle East for over 40 years. He is involved in nature and animal conservation as well as refugee aid.
As an IQPAK® partner, he takes care of all ecological aspects of product development.
Gool Santchurn
International Investor Relationships
Gool Santchurn is a CEO with decades of leadership experience. He has turned around a wide range of companies and made them market leaders, including in the recovery of beverage containers for recycling. Environmental protection and the reduction of plastic waste motivate him just as much as business interests.
He supports IQPAK® with his international network and with investor acquisition and management.
Rene Ungermann
IT Concept Officer, Database and App Developer
As co-founder of the start-up “InProSens”, René Ungermann develops intelligent sensor technology for use in process analytics: his sensors quickly test substances for pollutants and make sampling and laboratory analyses superfluous.
At IQPAK®, the AI application expert is responsible for the development and implementation of the IQPAK® database and app.
Funding and collaborations
The development of IQPAK® was partially funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) (“Smart and sustainable packaging system for system catering using the example of a deposit-reusable cup”).
We are a member of Mehrwegverband Deutschland e.V.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability in Darmstadt sees itself as a strong bridge between science and industrial application. The institute provides services along the entire value chain in the field of plastics technology: from materials and their processing to the realization of finished parts and systems and qualification with regard to safety and reliability. Together with its customers, the Fraunhofer LBF develops future-oriented research topics into product and process innovations.
The NFC Forum was founded in 2004 by Nokia, Royal Philips Electronics and Sony. The forum aims to promote the implementation and standardization of near-field communication technology and ensure compatibility between devices and services. In addition to IQPAK, other companies also support the NFC Forum through their membership, including American Express, Mastercard, Panasonic, Microsoft, Motorola, NEC, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Infineon Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, VISA International Service Association, Vodafone, Sprint, Postbank, Telefónica and France Télécom.
Interested?
Would you like to know more about us? Are you interested in our company history, our collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute or the vision of our company founder Johann A. Löning?