Dr. Michael Bantle Michael Bantle received his Ph.D. in process technology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for his work on atmospheric freeze drying. His Post-Doc work was dedicated to energy efficiency in drying and he continued working on this topic as a research scientist at SINTEF Energy Research in Trondheim/Norway. He is currently project leader for different projects in the area of food processing and heat pump technology. His research activities include heat pump assisted drying, energetic analyses and dynamic modelling of industrial processes.

Ing. Koen Decuypere Koen Decuypere has been active in the Frigro technical wholesale business since 2002. Frigro specializes in solutions for commercial cooling techniques. This family business was founded in 1980 as a distributor for components for the cooling industry and specializes over the last years in total solutions, energy savings and machine construction for the cooling industry. Educated as an industrial engineer in electro mechanics, Koen Decuypere followed different routes within the company: from staff member of the consulting firm, to sales and purchasing. Together with his brother Bert, Koen currently leads the company, a SMB with about 40 employees. They increasingly invest in solutions for alternative refrigerants, like CO2 or propane gas, or solutions for the recuperation of waste heat.

Ir. Frank Koninckx Frank Koninckx graduated with an M.Sc degree in Electro- Mechanical Engineering at Ghent University in 1988. He also obtained a degree in Business Management at the University of Montpellier (USTL) in 1989. After experience in process optimisation in the nonferrous sector, process automation for the glass industry, maintenance contracts for utilities and experience in waste treatment and sludge processing, since 2003 he has been operating as an independent consultant with his own company Kovia. Kovia provides advice and services in the field of energy efficiency and energy management for industrial companies, with special attention devoted to heat integration and process optimisation. Kovia’s model-based approach not only offers companies better energy efficiency, it also gives them greater insight along with tools for further follow-up.

Andy Pearson Andy Pearson is the Group Engineering Director at Star Refrigeration, based in Glasgow, Scotland. He is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde and is actively involved in many industry organisations including the Institute of Refrigeration, the British Standards Institute and ASHRAE. He has edited two books for the International Institute of Refrigeration; “Ammonia as a Refrigerant” and the soon-to-be-published companion volume “Carbon Dioxide as a Refrigerant”. In May 2014 he was presented with the Ritter von Rittenger medal by the IEA HPA at the Heat Pump Congress in Montreal.

Ing. Bruno VanslambrouckBruno Vanslambrouck graduated in 1981 as a Master in Industrial Sciences and joined Howest in 1986. In October 2013 his department integrated into Ghent University. He obtained a strong experience within the power generation sector (SPE Diesel power station Harelbeke). With this experience he was able to study and to realize a 288 kWe/478 kWth cogeneration unit, equipped with a didactical measurement system, built in 1995 and still in working order. Besides teaching several energy related courses, he’s initiating, coordinating or participating in multiple research projects, focused on waste heat valorization. So he’s a frequently asked speaker on external courses, seminars or conferences on Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), cogeneration and industrial heat pumps. He was also the organizer of the ORC symposium at Howest in May 2009 and the International Symposium on Advanced waste heat valorization technologies in September 2012.

Ing. Marcio VerhulstMarcio Verhulst graduated as M. Sc. in Elektromechanical Engineering at Ghent University, Belgium in 2013. In 2012 he worked as an internship research assistant in KIER, South Korea on ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) technology. As his thesis involved (re)building a complete ORC testbench and with his interest in thermal applications, he now works for the Thermal Energy in Industry research group of Ghent University as a research assistant on the W2Pheat and HP4Drying projects.

Jan-Willem VosholJan-Willem Voshol started his career in 1989 as mechanical engineer at STAL Refrigeration Benelux. After having finalized his refrigeration study he joined the STAL sales & design team where he got involved in many comprehensive plant design projects in ia. the (petro) chemical-, food- and leisure industries. His professional career changed from technical to business administration at the time he accepted a job as department manager. In order to gain more in depth knowledge about the refrigeration market as a whole, he accepted in 2005 a senior management position in the HVAC industries with Lennox International. In 2009 he received his MBA degree from the Business School Netherlands (BSN). The experience gained from both the technical and the managerial world are currently the breeding ground for the strategy of IBK Refrigeration B.V. where he found his new challenge as Managing Director since 2012. From a CSR point of view, IBK Refrigeration B.V. decided to develop a heatpump which next to economical profit, also should benefit to any social profit. In appreciation of the innovative strategy this project ,where wasted heat is used in a profitable way, finally got awarded with the ‘Refrigeration Trophy’ by the Dutch association of Refrigeration (NVKL).