Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Brecher has since January 2004 been Ordinary Professor for Machine Tools at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of the RWTH Aachen, as well as Director of the Department for Production Machines at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT. Upon finishing his academic studies in mechanical engineering, Brecher started his professional career first as a research assistant and later as team leader in the department for machine investigation and evaluation at the WZL. From 1999 to April 2001, he was responsible for the department of machine tools in his capacity as a Senior Engineer. After a short spell as a consultant in the aviation industry, Professor Brecher was appointed in August 2001 as the Director for Development at the DS Technologie Werkzeugmaschinenbau GmbH, Mönchengladbach, where he was responsible for construction and development until December 2003. Brecher has received numerous honors and awards, including the Springorum Commemorative Coin; the Borchers Medal of the RWTH Aachen; the Scholarship Award of the Association of German Tool Manufacturers (Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken VDW); and the Otto Kienzle Memorial Coin of the Scientific Society for Production Technology (Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Produktionstechnik WGP).