Heinz Lossau, PI Co-founder, Dies

AUBURN, Mass., Jan. 13, 2006 -- Heinz G. Lossau, a co-founder and longtime senior partner of Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG, a Karlsruhe, Germany-based developer of nanopositioning, micropositioning and piezoelectric technology, died on Dec. 12 at the age of 82. Lossau was also one of PI's executive directors until he retired in September 2004. Lossau was born in Berlin on Jan. 25, 1923. After earning a degree in physics and enjoying a varied professional career, he founded laser company Polytec GmbH in 1967 in Waldbronn, Germany.

PI said in a statement that Lossau was one of the initiators of PI's relocation from Munich to the Karlsruhe area in 1977, and that he "showed good instinct and foresight in appraising the economic potential of piezoelectric technology. With his help, Physik Instrumente developed from a small company to a leading international enterprise with eight subsidiaries, a total of more than 350 employees and more than 50 million euros total sales."

PI said that partners, management and staff will "continue the pioneering work of PI in the spirit of Heinz Lossau. Despite his passing, all operations of the company will continue unchanged."
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