Always there for you

Founded in 1909, DKV is at the forefront of refrigeration and air conditioning technology in Germany. Our mission is to advance the industry through research, collaboration and innovation.

Mission

Our commitment to excellence in technology

At DKV, we strive to advance the fields of cryogenics, refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technology. Our aim is to promote innovation and support our members through research and collaboration.

Promote sustainable practices in climate technology.

Facilitate the exchange of knowledge among industry experts.

Support research projects for future progress.

Building partnerships for a sustainable future.

Improve member retention through educational resources.

Advocate for industry standards and best practices.

Innovation

Leading the future of climate technology

At DKV, we are committed to advancing refrigeration and air conditioning technology. Our mission is to promote innovation and collaboration within the industry.

Join us in shaping sustainable climate protection solutions.

Discover our resources and industry insights today.

Network with experts and expand your knowledge.

History

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DKV conference is held entirely online.

2020

The DKV relocates to larger premises within Hanover.

2019

125 issues of the member magazine DKV aktuell.

2015

Publication of an educational atlas as a digital document with regular updates.

2014

DKV regional events at seven locations on current industry topics.

2012

Publication of a regular electronic newsletter, “NiM-DKV”, for members.

2012

Strategy process with adoption of Vision 2020:
To be the leading technical-scientific association in the refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat-pump sector in Europe for informed, motivated members.

2009

The DKV celebrates its 100th anniversary at its place of founding in Berlin. A chronicle covering this period is published.

2008

On April 1st, the administrative office is newly staffed with Ms. Carmen Stadtländer, and Ms. Irene Reichert is bid farewell into her well-deserved retirement. The office relocates to Hanover.

2004

Our history book “The DKV and the History of German Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technology” is published.

1998

The DKV launches its own website.

1996

First DKV conference held in the new federal states, in Leipzig.

1992

Formation of the Commission for “Honors and Awards.”

1990

Founding of the regional associations Sachsen and Halle/Saale.

1986

Establishment of the first DKV student group at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences.

1984

Division of Working Department II into:

II.1: Industrial Refrigeration Systems and Large Heat Pumps
II.2: Commercial Refrigeration Systems and Small Heat Pumps

1984

A new publication series, “DKV Status Reports,” is launched.

1982

In February, the first member magazine “DKV aktuell” is published.

1979

The DKV publishes DKV Research Reports.

1976

A new distinction is established: the Rudolf Plank Medal.

“For very special and outstanding services to the internal affairs of the association, to the realization of the association’s professional objectives, and for a significant impact externally for the benefit of the association.”

1973

Due to the growing importance of air conditioning technology, the DKV decided to change its name to German Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association – DKV.

1947

Re-establishment of the DKV under the name German Refrigeration Engineering Association at the suggestion of Rudolf Plank, who was elected as the first chairman.

1939

Transformation of the DKV into a Refrigeration Engineering Working Group within the VDI. This marked the provisional end of the DKV.

1909

Foundation of the German Refrigeration Association (DKV) in Berlin.
The chairmanship was assigned to Carl von Linde.

Structure

The German Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association consists of a board of directors and representatives from 6 working departments:

Division 1: Cryogenics

Division 2: Fundamentals

Division 3: Systems and Components
of Refrigeration and Heat Pump Technology

Division 4: Refrigeration Applications

Division 5: Air Conditioning Technology

Division 6: Heat Pump Applications

The association supports its members through 13 regional and sub-regional associations as well as seven student groups.

The DKV e.V. headquarters is located in Hanover.

Management Board

Meet the DKV board members

Holger Neumann

Chairman

Marek Miara

Deputy Chairman

Peter Eßlinger

Treasurer

Yves Wild

Former Chairman

Robin Langebach

Secretary

Andreas Binder

Spokesperson district associations

Christoph Haberstroh

Head A 1

Stefan Elbel

Head A 2

Stefan Elbel

Head A 3

Nicholas Lemke

Head A 4

Christian Friebe

Head A 5

Christiane Thomas

Head A 6

Carmen Stadtländer

Head Office

Awards

Type of honors and awards

Carl von Linde Commemorative Medal of the DKV

For special and outstanding contributions in science, research, or technology in the association’s fields of work:

1950 – Dr.-Ing. E. h. Edmund Altenkirch
1952 – Prof. Dr. Dir. Francis Simon
1956 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johann Kuprianoff
1959 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. E.h. mult. Rudolf Plank
1964 – Prof. Dr. Walther Meißner
1967 – Prof. Dr. Helmuth Hausen
1970 – Prof. Dr. Gustav Lorentzen
1973 – Prof. Dr. Dr.-Ing. E.h. Peter Grassmann
1976 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. E.h. Helmuth Glaser
1987 – Prof. Dr. John Michael Prausnitz
1992 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. E.h. Hans Dieter Baehr
1998 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst Kruse
1999 – Prof. Dr. sc. techn. Karl Petzold
2001 – Prof. Dr. Ole Fanger
2007 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Gorenflo
2021 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Felix Ziegler
2024 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Quack
2025 – Professor Günter Heinrich

DKV Medal

*) Previously: Award for Outstanding Achievements in Technology and Practice

For special and exceptional contributions in translating scientific and technical knowledge and principles into practical application, or in promoting this implementation in the association’s fields of work.

1985* – Dozent Karl Breidenbach
1986* – Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Erich Gottfried
1988* – Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Scholten
1989* – Ing. grad. Günther M. Keller
1996* – Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Dietrich
1997 – Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Adolph
1999 – Dipl.-Phys. Martin Streich
2001 – Peter Weissenborn
2004 – Dipl.-Ing. Holm Gebhardt
2005 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Reichelt
2006 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tibor Rakoczy
2007 – Dipl.-Ing. Ewald Preisegger
2008 – Institut für Thermodynamik und Wärmetechnik, Universität Stuttgart
2011 – Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Hans-Jürgen Breidert
2011 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Rudolf Engelhorn
2014 – Dipl.-Ing. Hermann Renz
2021 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Bothe
2025 – Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Müller

DKV Award for Science and Technology

The award is presented for an outstanding achievement in one of the DKV’s fields of work. This includes exceptional research projects as well as technical developments that lead to innovations or the advancement of the discipline.

2024 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sylvia Schädlich

DKV Student Award

For outstanding bachelor’s, master’s, or diploma theses in the association’s fields of work.

1989 – cand. mach. Alfred Erhard
1991 – cand. mach. Bernhard Bieger
1995 – cand mach. Frank Grässlin
1995 – cand. mach. Armin Hafner
2000 – cand mach. Claus Decker
2002 – Markus Schwarz
2002 – Dirk Butz
2009 – cand. mach. Björn C. F. Müller
2012 – B.-Eng. Jascha Ruebeling
2013 – Dipl.-Ing. Carolin Heidt
2013 – B. Eng. Frank Humpfer
2014 – Dipl.-Wirt.-Ing. Frauke Poblotzki
2014 – Dominic Dedering
2015 – Chris Fattroth, B.Sc.
2016 – Manuel Unger, M.Sc.
2019 – Hannah Krützfeldt, M.Sc.
2021 – Dipl.-Ing. Larissa Schaan
2022 – Tarek Deeb, M. Sc.
2022 – Carina Knieps, B. Sc.
2022 – Dipl.-Ing. Hannes Trumpf
2023 – Tim Rudzik
2024 – Tom-Alexander Müller
2024 – Jonas Hielscher
2024 – Simon Kruse
2025 – Dipl.-Ing. Cerrigan Rose
2025 – Niels Peters

DKV Young Researcher Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements

*) Previously: Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements

For exceptional scientific work, such as dissertations, habilitations, or comparable written research in the association’s fields of work.

1953* – Dr. rer.nat. Heinz Steinle
1954* – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Helmuth Hausen
1957* – Dr.-Ing. habil. Theodor Emil Schmidt
1958* – Obering. Ernst Hoffmann
1959* – Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Niebergall
1960* – Dr.-Ing. habil. Helmuth Glaser
1961* – Dr.-Ing. habil. Hans-Jürgen Löffler
1964* – Dr.-Ing. habil. Karl Stephan
1965* – Dr.-Ing. Jost Hänny
1969* – Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Gutschmidt
1976* – Dr.-Ing. habil. Dieter Gorenflo
1984* – Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Pfeiffenberger
1996 – Dr.-Ing. Kjeld Kraft
2000 – Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wettermann
2002 – Dr.-Ing. Dirk Müller
2002 – Dr.-Ing. Jens Philipp
2003 – Dr.-Ing. Andreas Fröba
2011 – Dr.-Ing. Rita Streblow
2016 – Dr.-Ing. Philipp Rollmann
2016 – Dr. Oleksandr Gryshkov
2018 – Dr. Bernd Wunderlich
2022 – Dr. Riley Barta
2022 – Dr. Christian Vering
2024 – Dr.-Ing. Niklas Buchholz

Rudolf Plank Medal of the DKV

For very special and outstanding services to the internal affairs of the association, to the realization of the association’s professional objectives, and for a significant impact externally for the benefit of the association.

1976 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kurt Linge
1977 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Theodor Emil Schmidt
1980 – Prof. Dr. Hermann Linde
1986 – Dr. Herbert Baldus
1989 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Steimle
1996 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Helmut Lotz
2000 – Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Scholten
2003 – Dipl.-Ing. Eckart Prandner
2012 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Harald Loewer
2018 – Dr.-Ing. Rainer M. Jakobs
2021 – Dr.-Ing. Josef Osthues
2023 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Arnemann

DKV Honorary Membership

For dedication and exceptional services to the internal affairs of the association. A prerequisite for the award is typically a minimum of 20 years of membership in the association.

1950 – Dr. Richard Linde
1951 – Dipl.-Ing. Alfred Teves
1952 – Dipl.-Ing. Christoph Fischer
1953 – Prof. Dr. Walter Pohlmann
1955 – Dipl.-Ing. Otto Hippenmeyer
1956 – Dipl.-Ing. Alfred Leupold
1957 – Dipl.-Ing. Walther Koeniger
1957 – Dipl.-Ing. Richard Plersch, sen.
1959 – Dipl.-Ing. Hugo Ombeck
1960 – Prof Dr. Paul Glansdorff
1960 – Dipl.-Ing. Carl F. Kayan
1960 – Dr. phil. Friedrich Linde
1964 – Dipl.-Ing. Ernst Richter
1965 – Prof. Dr. Peter Grassmann
1967 – Dipl.-Ing. Hugo Paul
1968 – Dipl.-Ing. Henni George Veenstra
1970 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Eduard Emblick
1970 – Dipl.-Ing. Erich Fink
1971 – Dipl.-Ing. Victor Warchalowski
vor’74 – Dipl.-Ing. Svend Andersen
vor’74 – Dr. Friedrich Linde
vor’74 – Dipl.-Ing. Oyvind Helgerud
vor’74 – Dipl.-Ing. Eduard Metzenhauer
1974 – Dir. Christian Matthiesen
1976 – Dipl.-Ing. Karl Heinze
1978 – Dipl.-Ing. Franz Lieding
1978 – Dr. Heinz Steinle
1979 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Valerius Füner
1983 – Werner Jensen
1986 – Dipl.-Ing. Karl-Heinrich Richter
1986 – Obering. Irmhild Sauerbrunn
1989 – Dr. Hannes Hünemörder
1990 – Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Anton Frank
1990 – Prof. Dr. Heinz Jungnickel
1999 – Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Kruft
2001 – Ernst Lücke
2006 – Dipl.-Ing. Werner Kolbe
2008 – Ing. Karl Breidenbach
2009 – Dipl.-Ing. Adalbert Stenzel
2010 – Ing. Bernhard Fischer
2014 – Irene Reichert
2016 – Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Adolph
2024– Dip.-Ing. Roland Handschuh