'Friends of DEUTZ's Engine Collection', the association founded by DEUTZ AG in cooperation with Cologne City Museum, acquired a prominent patron in March 2010. Professor Andreas Pinkwart, the Minister of Innovation, Science, Research and Technology for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, has become the honorary chairman of the association, which is dedicated to maintaining and looking after DEUTZ's historical collection of engines. "In 1876, Nicolaus August Otto designed the world's first four-stroke engine here in Cologne-Deutz. His pioneering work stands out among the many leading inventors and researchers in North Rhine-Westphalia," said Pinkwart.
DEUTZ's engine collection, which is protected through its inclusion on the official national list of valuable cultural assets of the Federal Republic of Germany, is one of the most significant not only in Germany but globally too. The collection's treasures include the atmospheric gas-powered engine from 1867, which is still in working order. Designed by Nicolaus August Otto, it was the world's first internal combustion engine to be produced in large numbers. The collection also contains the four-stroke engine from 1876, which is also still operational. The Chairman of Trustees for the 'Friends of DEUTZ's Engine Collection' association is Head of Corporate History at DEUTZ AG, Helmut Müller, who holds this post in an unsalaried capacity as a former director and longstanding member of the Supervisory Board. Dr. Michael Euler-Schmidt, Acting Director of Cologne City Museum, is the association's Vice Chairman of Trustees. The association, which was founded in December 2009 to safeguard and maintain DEUTZ AG's unique collection, now has more than 75 members.
The contact for this DEUTZ AG press release is:
Public Relations
Janina Decker
Tel.: +49 (0)221 822-2493
Fax: +49 (0)221 822-15-2493
E-Mail: decker.j@deutz.com
