Dipl.-Ing. Dieter Rosen – 60 years
On 28 September 2016, Dieter Rosen, Technical Director at the Federal Association of the German Brick and Tile Industry Regd., celebrated a milestone birthday – “the boy from Cologne is 60”!
Dieter Rosen has been a godsend for the German brick and tile industry! We only persuaded him to join us when the Central Association of the German Construction Industry, of which he was General Secretary, moved its offices from Bonn to Berlin in 1999. Before that, the graduate construction engineer, who also has a degree in History of Construction and Art, was a freelance engineer and construction manager. Following another career change when he joined the German Stonemasons Trade Association in Frankfurt, he was eventually drawn to building and residential construction.
From this experience, expertise and networks the clay brick and tile industry has profited to an extraordinary degree. Dieter Rosen knew from the point of view of a builder and user all the advantages and disadvantages of rival building materials and was able to draw on this knowledge especially in his work on national and international standards. Painstakingly picking apart a technical standard to bring home the last points for the clay brick and tile industry while jovially negotiating the issues – only very few people can do that!
In his almost 17 years with the Federal Association, Dieter Rosen has left his mark. But his words carry weight beyond national borders. For some time, he has been Secretary of the Product Group ‘Roofing Tiles’ at TBE, the European umbrella association for clay bricks and tiles, and is a leading voice in the European discussion on the radioactivity of construction materials. Besides his hobby of „clay pavers”, in recent years he has stepped up his efforts to ensure that clay brick as a natural product is not hindered by inappropriate regulations on its use. So he isn’t likely to run out of work in the next few years!
In the name of the German clay brick and tile industry, we offer our warmest congratulations to Dieter Rosen! His love of the Rhine Carnival, sport (despite the odd injury sometimes!) and travel will keep him young for a long time to come. And, not exactly unselfishly, we hope that our industry can profit from his experience and commitment for a long time yet!
Martin Roth
