Honorary membership of the DGM is a tribute to outstanding achievements and a sign of recognition for individuals who have made a special contribution to the society and its causes. It symbolizes the value and importance of the community that is committed to the research and further development of materials science and materials engineering. We are pleased to present one of our two DGM honorary members for 2025, Ms. Heide-Marie Dietel, in an interview.

“Every job was a thriller” – Ms. Dietel's professional career

1) Ms. Dietel, how did you get into metallography in the first place?

To be honest, through a series of lucky coincidences. When I finished high school in 1956, there was no career counseling. My first apprenticeship as a chemical laboratory assistant at the Institute for Iron and Steel Technology in Aachen was clearly a mistake. But at the same institute, I was offered the opportunity to complete a shortened apprenticeship as a metallographer – and that set me on my path.

2) Where did you gain your first professional experience?

I started my first job in September 1963 at the Center for Technology in Ismaning near Munich. The institute belonged to a large insurance company and was considered a “model company.” The main task was to process technical claims. Under the chief metallographer, Ms. Hildegard Brokop, I learned not only how to organize my work, but above all “practical metallography.” We had state-of-the-art equipment, exciting assignments, a collegial environment, and even a good salary. Those years had a profound impact on me.

3) What happened next for you?

In April 1967, I moved to Steigerwald Strahltechnik in Munich. There, I was able to set up a functioning testing laboratory—metallography, materials engineering, and photo lab. Later, I was also allowed to accept and bill external orders on my own. My laboratory soon became self-financing. It was an exciting and fulfilling job, but I lost it after 14 years when the company was sold to Messer Grießheim GmbH in Frankfurt.

4) That sounds like a turning point. How did you react?

Yes, it was a turning point. At first, I couldn't find a job in Munich that really satisfied me. Then I got a decisive push from Dr. Hermann Klingele from the Institute for Scanning Electron Microscopy in Munich. He suggested that I set up a small, independent laboratory for damage testing in an empty milk shop in Lehel. With the active support of Dr. Klingele and Dr. Peters, the head of personnel in technical development at Audi in Ingolstadt, I was able to take the plunge into self-employment in 1981. Looking back, the Center for Technology in Ismaning was my most important training ground—it was there that I learned to critically question my work: How—What—Why?

5) What fascinated you so much about metallography?

Even in my first year of training at the Technical University of Aachen, I was fascinated by its versatility—especially the detection of fault causes. Every job was like a detective story, and so my daily work became my hobby.

6) How did you experience the technical developments in your profession?

Digitalization has significantly refined the possibilities for preparation. But what's interesting is that, even today, many customers expect analog reports with black-and-white images and negatives in damage investigations. Despite all the technology, little has changed in that regard.

7) Looking back, what does metallography mean to you?

For me, it was the foundation for a fulfilling professional life—and it also put food on the table. I received a lot of support from open-minded superiors, colleagues, and my family. I am still grateful for that today. They all made it possible for me to have a fulfilling working life and now have a special place in my heart.

8) You founded the Boris Dietel Foundation. What do you hope to achieve with it?

It is important to me that young people receive better career guidance than I had available to me at the time. And I would like to encourage young women in particular to consider a career in skilled trades or technology. I recommend that all young people choose a job that they really believe in and enjoy doing. Any support for my foundation's work is welcome.

We would like to congratulate Ms. Heide-Marie Dietel once again on this special award and look forward to honoring her and all the award winners at the DGM-Tag 2025 and getting to know them personally.