Click the image above to see in more detail.
1983: George Fritz Werner Adler
George Fritz Werner Adler (1926-2002)
98th President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Adler was born in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin in Poland), in 1926.
He was educated at Penarth County School, followed by Cardiff Technical College. He then attended University College, Cardiff, between 1942 and 1945, and was awarded a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering (London University external) and Joint Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Cardiff. Adler then served a two-year graduate apprenticeship at English Electric Co., Rugby, before undertaking a postgraduate bursary in hydropower studies at Imperial College, London, from 1947 to 1948, obtaining a Diploma.
In 1948 Adler returned to English Electric’s Rugby works as a design engineer in the water turbine department. He worked under Dr. Paul Seewer, a Swiss engineer who had pioneered hydro-electric power in Scotland, and had built up a worldwide business for the company in this area. Adler spend a period in the hydraulic research department, before undertaking his first major project, to develop entirely new manufacturing techniques for water turbine runners (impellers).
From 1953 to 1956, Adler was Chief of Mechanical Development, and he extended the manufacturing techniques he had developed for water turbine runners, to the whole range of water turbine components. In 1956 he was appointed Chief Development Engineer for English Electric’s power generation activities at the Rugby and Whetstone works, including steam, water and gas turbines, diesel engines and nuclear power equipment. He also built up the newly formed Mechanical Engineering Laboratories at Whetstone.
In 1958, Adler moved to the Marconi Company at Chelmsford as Chief Mechanical Engineer and member of the Directorate of Engineering. Four years later he moved within the company to become General Manager of it new Mechanical Products Division at Felling.
Adler returned to English Electric in 1966, moving to the Netherton (Lancashire) works to manage the company’s water turbine and valve divisions, and help restore these to profitability. At the time, the company was facing strong international competition in this area, particularly from Japan.
In 1971, Adler was appointed Director of Research (Chief Executive) of the British Hydromechanics Research Association (BHRA). The BHRA was an independent technology centre specialising in fluid engineering.
Adler also served as a member of the Department of Industry’s Technology Transfer Services Advisory Committee and the Department’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Requirements Board. He was elected to the Fellowship of Engineering 1981, and was awarded an OBE in the Birthday Honours of June 1982.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1983.
He died in 2002.
Image Details
| Biography |
|---|
