2008 Founding of IGR Institute for Glass and Raw Materials Technology GmbH

Dirk Diederich founded the company in Göttingen in 2008 with two other partners and has been managing it ever since. With the foundation, he took his many years of experience in the glass industry into his own hands in order to make his knowledge and skills available to more than just one company.
From the beginning, the focus was on chemical and physical analysis and quality control of glass, glass raw materials, recycled glass and materials of all kinds. Consulting, research and development of analytical processes, process and processing techniques complemented the offer.

2013 Recognized training company

In 2013, the IGR was audited and recognized by the IHK Hannover as a training company. Since then, the 3.5-year training to become a chemical laboratory technician has been possible. Several trainees have already accepted this offer.

2015 accreditation according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005

The biggest milestone in the history of this still young company took place in 2015: the accreditation according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 “General requirements for the QM system and the working methods of testing and calibration laboratories”.

2015 Innovation Award of the district of Göttingen “large-scale UV protective glass without foil or coating”

Research and development are of immense importance to IGR and the company is therefore happy to compete for innovation awards. After several second places in previous years, IGR Institute for Glass and Raw Materials Technology GmbH, in cooperation with Glashütte Lamberts and Drexler Glasservice, took the 1st place at the Innovation Award of the district of Göttingen. The award was given to the development and manufacture of the product “World’s first production of large-scale UV-protective glass without foiling or coating”.

2019 Re-accreditation DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018

In the summer of 2019, the accreditation was successfully renewed by the German Accreditation Agency (DAkkS), the national accreditation authority of the Federal Republic of Germany, and adapted to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018.

2020 Innovation Prize of the Göttingen District “Special Prize for Measurement Technology”

The IGR won once again with the special prize “Measurement technology” at the Innovation Award of the district of Göttingen in 2020. This time the award was given to the mini data loggers developed in cooperation with the measurement technology company MSR Elektronics GmbH. These allow the recording of accelerations in the form of shocks, impacts and vibrations using high-resolution sensors for the first time in filled original vessels and not, as is customary up to then, in Plexiglas dummies.

2021 Laying the foundation stone of own laboratory building

Another milestone was the laying of the foundation stone for its own laboratory building in 2021. While IGR was still a tenant until then, it had to be determined over the years that the existing premises in Science-Park II on Rudolf-Wissel-Straße were no longer sufficient. After some time of evaluation, including viewing various objects (with and without existing buildings), a suitable plot of land could finally be acquired in Else-Krengel-Straße and new construction started there.

2022 Move into own laboratory building in Göttingen

The new building was completed fairly quickly despite adverse circumstances (lack of raw materials, war in Europe, …) so that the IGR could start moving in August 2022.

2022 / 2023 jury stage Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises

In 2022 and 2023, the IGR reached the 2nd stage – jury stage – of the Oskar Patzelt Foundation’s nationwide “Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises” competition. As the only business prize in Germany, the “Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Enterprises” does not only assess business administration, innovations or jobs alone, but also the company as a whole and in its complex role in society. Nominations are made exclusively by third parties. “Who was nominated here , has already received a first-class award through this selection alone” (Barbara Stamm, former President of the Bavarian State Parliament). The IGR Institute for Glass and Raw Materials Technology is located in the heart of Germany and has its headquarters in Göttingen. The university location offers many advantages and this was ultimately the reason for moving to a new location within the city of Göttingen, although options outside of it were also possible. Many well-known glassworks are located in the surrounding area, as well as innovative recycling companies and high-quality raw material reserves for the glass industry, among others. Many of these companies are already IGR customers.
There are also numerous other customers, both from Germany and Europe, as well as from North America, Asia and Africa. The location’s connection to glass production is not just a current issue. In recent years, archaeological excavations have uncovered the oldest forest glassworks in Germany, and probably even in Central Europe, in our immediate vicinity. Try us – we look forward to it!