KEYNOTE SPEAKER: CHRIS LUETTGEN

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Alliance for Pulp & Paper Technology Innovation

PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Pulp, Paper, Packaging and Tissue, Renewable Bioproducts Institute, an Interdisciplinary Research Institute at GT

DIRECTOR GT Pulp and Paper Engineering Undergraduate Certification Program and Foundation

Luettgen has 25 plus years of industry experience, with Scott Paper and Kimberly-Clark Corp., where he most recently served as head of North American Innovation the Kimberly-Clark Professional business sector. He has held positions in product development and innovation as well as in capital project management and manufacturing facility leadership.

For several years, Luettgen has served on the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute Industry Board of Advisors, and as the Chairman of the Board of the Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry (TAPPI).  He earned his bachelor’s degree in Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University (’85), his master’s degree at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, WI (’87), and his Ph.D. in Surface Chemistry at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology – now the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at Georgia Tech (’91).

He rejoined Georgia Tech in November 2014 as a Professor of the Practice in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Associate Director of Pulp, Paper, Tissue and Packaging at RBI. He also serves as the Director of the undergraduate Pulp and Paper Certificate Program and its Foundation.

Areas of research interest include:  Recycling; renewable cellulosic feedstocks; replacing fossil-based products with bio-based materials; commercialization of nanocellulosic materials in consumer and packaging products; Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0; tissue/towel manufacturing and converting; and manufacturing leadership / operational excellence.

RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS:

  • Biobased Materials
  • Biochemicals
  • Biorefining
  • Biotechnology
  • Pulp Paper Packaging and Tissue
  • Sustainable Manufacturing