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SurFunction GmbH – Your experts for functional surfaces

The history of the deeptech pioneer SurFunction

Management Team

SurFunction GmbH is represented by the founders, shareholders and managing directors Dr. Dominik Britz and Ralf Zastrau.

Dominik Britz, Dr.-Ing.

Co-founder of SurFunction and CEO

In 2013, Dr. Dominik Britz took over the operational management of MECS. With him as leader, the successful transfer of DLIP technology could finally be achieved from laboratory experiments to industrial applications.

Ralf Zastrau

Co-founder of SurFunction and CEO

Ralf Zastrau is responsible for strategy, corporate development and corporate communications. He accompanies the company as managing director and drives the change from a scientific start-up to a market-oriented technology company. Ralf Zastrau has many years of experience in surface technology, both in medium-sized businesses and in international corporations.

Team

SurFunction stands for highly qualified experts from various disciplines. All employees are at the heart of SurFunction’s success and combine valuable expertise in the areas of science, materials technology, engineering, chemistry, business administration and computer science.
 
SurFunction is very proud of a diverse team that brings different levels of experience from seven nationalities.

Advisory Board

Our advisory board combines technological excellence with industry experience. His primary task is to actively support business development and the role of advising and supporting the management in key decision-making issues.

Prof. Dr. Frank Mücklich

Chairman of the advisory board

Head of the Chair of Functional Materials at Saarland University and co-founder of SurFunction.

Curriculum vitae

Dr. Andreas Leffer

Member of the advisory board

General Manager Stahl- und Apparatebau Hans Leffer GmbH & Co. KG.

Curriculum vitae

Niklas Raberg

Member of the advisory board

Partner Specialty Funds at Capnamic. Experience in digital and customer-focused B2B topics. 

Locations

The locations in Saarbrücken and Dresden provide companies with complete DLIP systems and highly functional DLIP surfaces.

In addition to the location of the central organization, the focus at the headquarters in Saarbrücken is on product development and material analysis as well as further development in the DLIP area with complementary surface technologies. In addition, the functionalization of small to medium-sized 2D components takes place there.

SurFunction TEC is the competence center for the development and production of the next generation of DLIP optics (Gen II) in Dresden. The focus here is on process development and the functionalization of medium to large components up to 2.5D. In addition, SurFunction Tec has expertise in the indirect functionalization of thin plastics, for example with so-called “sleeves” using embossing processes.

Awards & Distinctions

2011

German High Tech Champion Prize (Chair of laser-based manufacturing – TUD)

2015

Green Photonics Award (Chair of laser-based manufacturing – TUD)

2016

Berthold-Leibinger Innovation Prize (for the Professors Frank Mücklich and Andrés Lasagni)

2019

Löhn Prize (Material Engineering Center Saarland – MECS)

2023

2nd Place at the 14th German Mechanical Engineering Summit

2024

KfW Award Gründen – State Winner of Saarland

Partners and Network of SurFunction

SurFunction GmbH is a spin-off from the Steinbeis association, one of the internationally most successful service providers in knowledge and technology transfer with more than 1,100 transfer institutes/research centers and companies worldwide.

One of these institutes, the Steinbeis Research Center “Material Engineering Center Saarland (MECS)”, based in Saarbrücken, was already founded ten years ago by Prof. Dr. Frank Mücklich. Thus, it became possible to develop the DLIP technology further, especially through industrial projects with direct application relevance.

Between MECS and SurFunction exists a trustful cooperation for the development of further application areas in the field of functional materials and surfaces.

Research Projects

Click here to learn more about our research projects.

Surfunction GmbH

Campus Starterzentrum
Building A1.1
D-66123 Saarbrücken

+49(0) 681 302 64967
info@surfunction.com

Do you have any questions?

Contact us now. Our experts will be happy to support you!

Big changes start on a small scale

Contact now the expert team of SurFunction GmbH. We will be glad to guide you to the next generation of your products with DLIP!