A tribute to Professor Heinz Peeken
date: 26.11.2025
The global tribology community grieves the passing of one of its greatest figures, Professor Heinz Peeken
Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz Peeken, internationally renowned for his pioneering contributions to tribology, passed away on October 30, 2025, at the age of 99. Born on November 7, 1925, he devoted his life to advancing engineering science and education.
After studying engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Prof. Peeken began his career in industry before joining the Max Planck Institute für Reibungsforschung under Professor Georg Vogelpohl. His doctoral thesis was on the hydrodynamics of journal bearings, completed in 1959.
Following teaching positions at the Engineering College in Kiel and a readership at the Technical University of Braunschweig, in 1967, he was appointed Professor and Director of the Institute of Machine Elements and Machine Design at RWTH Aachen University, a position he held with distinction for decades. Over his career, he published more than 125 scientific papers, influencing the design of journal and rolling bearings, gears, couplings, and lubricants worldwide.
Prof. Peeken’s work was recognized with numerous honors, including the Georg Vogelpohl Insignia and tribology’s highest accolade, the Tribology Gold Medal in 1984. He also served as President of the German Society for Tribology, organizing the landmark Second European Tribology Congress in 1977.
A dedicated teacher, he integrated tribology into engineering curricula and mentored generations of students. His research and leadership helped secure government support for tribology, resulting in hundreds of projects that strengthened German industry.
Despite his international stature, Prof. Peeken remained modest and approachable, known for his integrity and his ability to solve complex industrial problems with clarity and speed.
He will be remembered as one of the world’s foremost tribologists, a scholar and educator whose work profoundly shaped engineering science and practice.