CIMAC


CIMAC provides a forum for technical interchange with all parties interested in piston engines, gas turbine systems, non-shaftline propulsion systems, automation and controls, system integration and digitalisation solutions. The akronym originates from its French name: Conseil International des Machines à Combustion. CIMAC is a registered association that represents the worldwide interests of the industry in power, drives and propulsion as an umbrella association in dealings with regulatory authorities and standardization bodies. CIMAC was founded in Paris in 1950 and moved its secretariat from London to Frankfurt in 1996. CIMAC is made up of approximately 500 national associations and large companies from 27 countries in America, Asia and Europe. In addition to manufacturers of large engines and their suppliers, its members also include users of large engines, fuel and lubricant manufacturers, universities and development service providers. In July 2024, CIMAC was officially granted consultative status with the International Maritime Organization.
WWW cimac.com

Organizational structure

The CIMAC Board prepares decisions which must be approved by the CIMAC Council. The CIMAC Council is composed of delegates from the 15 National Members Associations and 18 direct corporate members. This body also elects the President of CIMAC, who has been elected every 3 years since 1993. Below the management there are 12 permanent working groups which deal with questions and developments in the various areas of the large engine industry and develop position papers, guidelines and technical recommendations. In addition, there is a strategy group greenhouse gas as well as a strategy group digitalization. In 2025, for example, the Working Group System Integration issued a guideline on digital twins in the maritime industry. The technical papers produced by the CIMAC working groups are used by organisations such as the International Association of Classification Societies, the UN International Maritime Organization and others in matters of standardisation. The results of the working groups are regularly presented at international seminars, workshops and the CIMAC Congress.

Congress

The central platform for exchange within the large engines industry is the CIMAC Congress. It takes place every 3 years on different continents and at different locations. The latest developments in drive technologies are presented and discussed at the congress. The last CIMAC Congress was held in Vancouver in 2019 and three years earlier in Helsinki. The next CIMAC Congress was scheduled for 2022 in Busan, Korea, but had to be postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It took place in May 2023. The last Congress took place in May 2025 in Zurich/Switzerland

History

CIMAC was founded in 1950. The acronym CIMAC is derived from the French Congrès International des Moteurs A Combustion Interne in adaptation to the place of foundation Paris. In the years following the end of the World War II, reconstruction and growth were high on the agenda of many countries. The demand for energy was correspondingly high. The internal combustion engine was regarded as a central component in providing the necessary energy. Technical developments were needed, but nobody knew exactly who in the world was working on what. CIMAC was therefore founded as a forum for greater transparency and mutual exchange in the industry. CIMAC has in spring 2024 changed its name slightly. The well-known word mark CIMAC, which has been used from the outset, has been retained, but the subsequent explanation “International Council on Combustion Engines” has been dropped. The reason is easy to understand: Although combustion engines are still the core element, in the younger past they have increasingly developed into integral parts of functional systems. CIMAC has taken this into account and widened the scope. Accordingly, CIMAC is the leading global non-profit association promoting the development of ship propulsion, train drive and power generation. The association consists of National Member Associations and Corporate Members in America, Asia and Europe. CIMAC provides a forum for technical interchange with all parties interested in piston engines, gas turbine systems, non-shaftline propulsion systems, automation and controls, system integration and digitalization solutions.

Presidents

Since 1951 CIMAC has had 24 presidents:
No.NameCountryFromUntil
1Paul C. TharletFranceMay 1951June 1957
2Haakon AndresenDenmarkJune 1957Oct 1961
3Roberto de PieriItalyOct 1961Aug 1964
4Max ZwickySwitzerlandDec 1964Oct 1969
5Siegfried MeurerGermanyOct 1969Oct 1973
6Waheeb RizkGreat BritainOct 1973Nov 1977
7Alberto GuglielmottiItalyNov 1977Nov 1981
8Lars Th. CollinSwedenNov 1981Nov 1983
9Cecil C.J. FrenchGreat BritainNov 1983Nov 1985
10Masutaro ShibataJapanNov 1985Nov 1987
11Meinrad K. EberleSwitzerlandNov 1987Nov 1989
12Hans H. WesseloThe NetherlandsNov 1989Nov 1991
13Helmut W.K. MaghonGermanyNov 1991Nov 1993
14Georg LustgartenSwitzerlandNov 1993Nov 1995
15Peter S. PedersenDenmarkNov 1995May 1998
16Stephan G. DexterAustriaMay 1998May 2001
17Nikolaos P. KyrtatosGreeceMay 2001May 2004
18Matti E. KleimolaFinlandMay 2004May 2007
19Karl WojikAustriaMay 2007May 2010
20Yasuhiro ItohJapanMay 2010May 2013
21Christoph TeetzGermanyMay 2013June 2016
22Klaus HeimItalyJune 2016June 2019
23Donghan JinChinaJune 2019June 2023
24Rick BoomNetherlandsJune 2023