Eugen G. Leuze Publications and the Journal “Galvanotechnik”

Although the premises in Leipzig were totally destroyed by bombing in 1943, publication continued until the end of the war in 1945. Difficulties in the ensuing years made it impossible to produce the journal in the years 1946 to 1952. This is the reason why issues published in 1999 are designated as Volume 90, and why the Volume Number is less than the date when the first issue was produced.

After the death of the founder on 3^rd April 1946, in Leipzig, it fell to his widow Gertrud Leuze, mother of Heinz Leuze, to re-vitalise the company. The Editor, Hugo Krause, had also died some years earlier. However Gertrud Leuze decided first to await the return of her son, who had been a prisoner-of-war in Russia. He returned to Leipzig on 21^st June 1947.

The re-launch of the business, now under its second proprietor, Heinz Leuze, following its enforced dormancy, took place in new premises located in Saulgau, Wuerrtemberg, in 1952. By coincidence, Saulgau lies close to Reutlingen, birthplace of its original founder. Thus, with its first post-war double issue dated November-December 1952, the journal was reborn.

Heinz Leuze died quite unexpectedly, while attending the 1983 “Productronica” Exhibition. The reins were taken over by his son-in-law Kurt Reichert and his wife Sylvia Leuze-Reichert, together with her sister Inge Leuze. The business thus passed into the third generation of the family.

Galvanotechnik thereby continued as one of the most respected and well-known technical journals serving the Surface Treatment industry. With a circulation of up to 6000 per monthly issue, distributed in up to 53 countries around the globe, its primary focus was the electroplating of metals. However its coverage progressively expanded, to include organic coatings, physical and vacuum coating methods as well as environmental technologies such as effluent and solid waste treatment. Most recently, coverage has been further expanded to include the explosively-growing technologies used in micro-engineering.

As from 1^st January 1999, the section of Galvanotechnik dealing with Printed Circuit Boards was hived-off to form a new title, PLUS – Produktion von Leiterplatten Und Systemen. This new title covered all aspects from board design, through board manufacture to board population and assembly.

Apart from these journals, Leuze Publications was involved right from the earliest days, in the production of technical books covering the field of Surface Engineering and Metal Finishing. At present, no less than 80 such titles are available, providing the widest possible subject coverage.