OBITUARY

Laszlo Nemes died on 01/12/2021.

Dr Nemes was a major contributor in advanced manufacturing, particularly relating to automatic control and enterprise integration.

Born in Hungary on 28th December 1937 Laszlo suffered extreme trauma at age 7 in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp with his mother, sister and baby brother. Luck saved them from Auschwitz. During months of starvation Laszlo nearly died of influenza.

He was awarded an MSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1964 from the Technical University of Heavy Industries, Miskolc, Hungary; a Postgraduate Diploma in control engineering from the Technical University, Budapest, Hungary in 1969 and, in 1981, he earned a Hungarian Academy of Sciences “Candidate of Sciences” (PhD equivalent) qualification for research in Computer Applications in Manufacturing. In 1986 the University of Heavy Industries, Miskolc bestowed a “Doctor Universitatis” (Hon. DSc or DEng equivalent).

From 1974 he was Head of Division for Automation of Machine Industry of MTA SZTAKI (Institute for Computer Science and Control of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), researching integrated manufacture, computer-aided design, robotics and factory automation. Outcomes were applied by manufacturers in Hungary and other countries.

In 1986 the CSIRO Division of Manufacturing Technology invited Dr Nemes to lead the Intelligent Manufacturing group. He migrated with his then wife and two young children. He quickly established contacts with Australian industry, universities and other CSIRO divisions.

He was a key player in forming the Australian CRC for Intelligent Manufacturing Systems and Technologies; while, internationally, he worked to form the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems program, involving Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan and USA.

Dr Nemes was elected an ATSE Fellow in 1997. He served on engineering advisory committees for ANU and RMIT University.

Laszlo died on 1st December 2021 aged 84. He is sadly missed by his partner of 12 years and his daughter, son and 4 grandchildren. 

Dr Nemes is an eminent technologist who has a very successful record of innovation. His field of research has been control, specialising in machine tool and robot control and, in more recent years, information technologies applied to logistics in manufacturing.
Dr Nemes has received recognition and awards from several countries for his work and he is very well respected internationally. He is author or co-author of six books and is taking a leading role in the developing field of enterprise integration. Apart from his duties in CSIRO, he is currently active as a UNIDO expert adviser for a major project in China.