Improving Fiber Quality and Reducing Chlorine Use in Paper Repulping. Oxone™- The chlorine-free repulping aid

Professor of the Practice                      
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
College of Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology

Associate Director, Pulp, Paper, Packaging and Tissue, Renewable Bioproducts Institute, an Interdisciplinary Research Institute at GT

Director, GT Pulp and Paper Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Program and Foundation

Luettgen has 25 plus years of industry experience, with Scott Paper and Kimberly-Clark Corp., where he most recently served as head of North American Innovation the Kimberly-Clark Professional business sector. He has held positions in product development and innovation as well as in capital project management and manufacturing facility leadership.

For several years, Luettgen has served on the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute Industry Board of Advisors, and as the Chairman of the Board of the Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry (TAPPI).  He earned his bachelor's degree in Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University (’85), his master’s degree at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, WI (’87), and his Ph.D. in Surface Chemistry at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology - now the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at Georgia Tech (’91).

He rejoined Georgia Tech in November 2014 as a Professor of the Practice in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Associate Director of Pulp, Paper, Tissue and Packaging at RBI. He also serves as the Director of the undergraduate Pulp and Paper Certificate Program and its Foundation.

The Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) is the internationally recognized association for the industry with over 9000 members.  Luettgen has been a member of TAPPI since 1984 having served as a Student Chapter President while in Graduate School from 1986-1990.  In addition, Luettgen served a three-year term as TAPPI Board of Directors At-large Member, two years as the Vice-Chairman of the Board, two years as Chairman of the Board and finally two years as Chairman of the Nominations/Awards Committee of TAPPI from 2011-2019.  This culminated in being named a TAPPI Fellow in 2014, a designation reserved for those who have contributed to the technical health of the industry and reserved for less than 1% of the total membership. TAPPI has seen a revival in recent years due to targeted membership marketing and emphasis on member technical development, as overseen by the Board.  The calendar year 2015 held significance, as it marked the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of TAPPI, and celebrations were held throughout the year at various sponsored conferences. 

Areas of research interest include: Recycled fiber, renewable cellulosic feedstocks, nanocellulosic materials in consumer and packaging products, Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, tissue/towel manufacturing and converting and manufacturing leadership / operational excellence.