EurGeol Dr. rer. nat. Lutz Krakow (married, 2 children) studied Geology and Palaeontology at the Georg-August Universität in Göttingen. With his team he supplies the brick industry with raw materials and is a reliable partner for numerous companies. He also offers services such as the geological exploration of clay deposits and product development. Dr. Krakow is an author of the journal ‘Ziegelindustrie International’; the official organ of the federal association of the German brick industry ‘Bundesverband der Deutschen Ziegelindustrie e.V.’.
‚author * employer * geologist * managing director * company owner * raw material supplier’
The technical specialization in Palaeozoic raw materials for brick production was a new geological challenge. The raw material exploration in Poland was one of the first international projects to supply clinker, brick and tile plants. The realization of projects in Belgium, France, Austria, Romania and Switzerland followed later on. Publicly-funded research projects became an additional focus of Dr. Krakow.
‘A result of fortunate circumstances and excellent business contacts’
With the foundation of ClayServer GmbH long-term raw material trading in northwest Germany began. Main specializations were clay slates and chamottes. The transportation of material is carried out by trucks and ships. Dr. Krakow attended various international conferences and held numerous presentations. The geoceramic laboratory was established.
‘Raw materials and logistics under one roof’
A new chapter began as a project leader and expert reviewer in landfill seals. The performance of suitability tests, self-monitoring and inspection, clay mineral analysis and writing up to 200 expert reports a year belonged to the task areas. Dr. Krakow was nominated as managing director in 1993. In 1995 the first contracts were made with the brick industry. Two years later (1997) the company of Dr. Krakow RohstoffConsult today Dr. Krakow Rohstoffe GmbH was founded.
‘A time of incredible market opportunities after the German reunification. But today anyone could do it.’
With the beginning of his doctoral studies at the Georg-August University Göttingen Dr. Krakow focussed on rocks from Mesozoic layers. He studied the connections of clay mineralogy and landfill construction. He made first business contacts with the well-known companies Jacobi and Wienerberger, supported by his doctoral supervisor Dr. Siegfried Ritzkowski.
‘Unplanned basis for the entry into the brick industry’
Already before his university studies Lutz Krakow was fascinated by the idea to make money with Geology. His mentor was Dr. Eckard Gauglitz, laboratory director of the ‘Erdbaulabor’ in Göttingen where Lutz Krakow worked as a student assistant. During the job he gained experiences with core drillings in quaternary unconsolidated rocks. His diploma thesis was focussed on engineering geology supervised by Dr. Norbert Wilczewski. His chemistry teacher Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Herbert W. Roesky had a profound an inspiring influence on the studies of Lutz Krakow.
‘First fascinating insights into the geological underground’
