Product officer for metals monitoring instruments.

Sensmet Oy has announced the appointment of Jyri Hämäläinen as Chief Product Officer (CPO), a lead role in which he will spearhead the development of the company’s unique continuous metals monitoring instruments.

Jyri Hämäläinen 

Jyri brings over 25 years of cross-functional executive leadership spanning technology, product development, global sales, and marketing. Most recently, as Co-Founder and Director at Emberion, he defined product strategies and led global sales and marketing, taking a photonics deep-tech startup from early incubation to exit. His career also includes key director roles at Nokia Technologies driving sales development and commercial partnerships, alongside strong operational roots in heavy industry and strategic consulting at Boston Consulting Group.

“I am very pleased to be joining Sensmet at this pivotal stage in the company’s growth,” explains Hämäläinen. “Sensmet’s core technology is extremely impressive, and has been proven in a wide variety of applications. By delivering a solution to the continuous measurement of metal concentrations, Sensmet has resolved a major challenge for many rapidly growing industries, so I am excited to take on a role that will help to leverage that technology, and make it applicable to a much wider group of customers and applications.”

Sensmet CEO, Dr Toni Laurila says: “We are delighted to welcome Jyri to the Sensmet team. He is a highly accomplished individual with impressive credentials, and I am sure that he will play an important role in accelerating Sensmet’s growth.”

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@Sensmet_Ltd @_Enviro_News #PAuto 

EMEA appointment in Test & Measurenent rental.

Helping strengthen customers with market-leading test and measurement solutions, backed by trusted OEM partnerships.

Stijn Sallaerts

Stijn Sallaerts has been appointed as VP and General Manager, Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) with Electro Rent. In this role, Stijn will lead the company's European business, driving growth across strategic markets including Aerospace & Defence, Semiconductor, Wireline and Wireless Telecoms, and AI Infrastructure & Data Centres, while strengthening customer relationships and strategic OEM partnerships throughout the region.

Mike Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Electro Rent, commented: "Stijn combines deep technical expertise with exceptional commercial leadership and a relentless focus on customer success. His global experience, strategic mindset, and ability to build strong customer and OEM partnerships make him the ideal leader to accelerate our growth across the region."

Stijn brings more than 20 years of international leadership experience in the electronic test and measurement industry. Having held senior commercial, product management, and executive leadership positions across Europe, Asia, and North America, he has successfully led global product management, procurement, operations, and commercial organisations while helping shape Electro Rent's long-term growth strategy.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electronic Engineering from KU Leuven (Belgium) and an MBA from Vlerick Business School (Belgium), combining deep technical expertise with strategic business leadership. Throughout his career, Stijn has built strong partnerships with many of the world's leading test and measurement equipment manufacturers, shaping Electro Rent's global product portfolio and enabling customers to access the technologies they need to innovate faster and more efficiently.

Commenting on his appointment, Stijn said: "Electro Rent has a proud heritage of helping customers access the technologies they need to innovate faster and more efficiently. I am honoured to lead our European organisation and excited to work alongside our talented teams, customers and OEM partners as we continue to strengthen our market position, expand our partnerships and deliver the flexibility, technical expertise and customer experience that differentiate Electro Rent."

As VP and General Manager, EMEA, Stijn will focus on accelerating growth in strategic technology markets, strengthening OEM partnerships, driving operational excellence.

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@ElectroRentEMEA @mepaxIntPR #TandM #PAuto

Collaborative integrated scientific discovery chief appointed.

Symeres the leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), and Axxam, provider of biology-driven discovery services, have announced the appointment of Russell Thomas, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer to drive a joint collaboration between Symeres and Axxam that combines the unique R&D services offering of both organizations.

Dr Russell Thomas

The appointment strengthens the scientific leadership of both Symeres and Axxam as they continue to build a closely connected, science-led offering for pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. By bringing together the complementary capabilities of both organizations, customers can receive support across integrated discovery and development programs. The integrated solutions offered span all the way from target assessment, screening and testing, lead identification and optimization all the way to development candidate nomination and IND ready packages.

As CSO, Thomas will help shape and execute the scientific strategy of Symeres and Axxam, as well as working closely with scientific and commercial teams across both companies. His role will include supporting the development of integrated client solutions, connecting scientific capabilities, and identifying opportunities to further strengthen the combined discovery and development capabilities. The appointment comes as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies increasingly seek partners able to provide solutions, that connects scientific support across the drug discovery and development continuum.

Symeres and Axxam will provide customers with integrated access to a palette of scientific expertise, established R&D platforms and long-standing teams across Europe and the US. The collaboration brings together the unique scientific depth, specialist capabilities and practical delivery mindset of Symeres and Axxam to meet the needs of increasingly complex customer programs. Their shared commitment to high-quality science and practical collaboration will deliver lasting value for partners.

Thomas returns to Symeres after a year supporting growing biotech and biomaterials companies. As well as his experience at Axxam and Symeres, he has held scientific and leadership positions at organizations including GSK, Evotec, Siena Biotech, and Proteros. His wealth of experience spanning the entire R&D value chain will be a significant advantage to customers discovery and development programs.

“Returning as Chief Scientific Officer feels very exciting as it connects two parts of a story. Having spent important parts of my career at both Symeres and Axxam, I’m excited to help bring together expert led complementary science, strong transatlantic teams and a shared mindset to support partners and projects in a truly integrated way,” said Thomas.

Thomas first joined Symeres in January 2020 as Head of Business Development and later served as Chief Scientific Officer. During his tenure, he played a key role in developing strategic customer relationships and strengthening the company’s scientific profile across the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

Before joining Symeres, Thomas served as Director of Discovery Research and later Director of Strategic Alliances at Axxam. He helped establish and manage the integrated medicinal chemistry relationship with Symeres, giving him a deep understanding of both organizations ensuring he is aligned to the scientific and cultural foundations customers value.

“Russell’s appointment reflects our commitment to building value for customers that matches their drug discovery and development needs,” said Henning Steinhagen, CEO of Symeres. “As customer programs become more complex, scientific leadership that can connect capabilities, people and platforms across organizations becomes increasingly important. Russell brings a rare combination of scientific expertise, industry experience and first-hand knowledge of both Symeres and Axxam, together with a strong understanding of how to translate early discovery projects into preclinical development and beyond. This makes him ideally placed to help us deliver value for customers and support our long-term growth strategy.”

“Russell’s appointment is aligned to the vision of integrated discovery and development linking two organisations that know each other well. The common objective is to develop faster and better drugs for the pharmaceutical industry and ultimately improve patient’s lives” said Ciriaco Maraschiello, CEO of Axxam. “Russell’s appointment is an important step in strengthening the connection between both companies, with his experience providing a valuable perspective on how to connect scientific capabilities to customer needs. Having worked within both Axxam and Symeres, he understands the strengths, culture and potential of each organisation, and is well placed to support the growth of both companies.”

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 #symeres #Axxam#Pharma #Research

Vice President of Life Sciences.

Critical Manufacturing, the leading provider of next-generation Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and a subsidiary of ASMPT, has announced a major appointment. Paul Straeten, a digital transformational visionary, is now appointed as Vice President of Life Sciences.

Paul joined the company on October 24, bringing over 20 years of experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain, and Industry 4.0 technologies across the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors.

Prior to joining Critical Manufacturing, Paul led large-scale MES and SAP programs at Medtronic - one of the world’s most complex manufacturing ecosystems. By enhancing machine connectivity, real-time data integration, and automated vision inspection, he helped elevate operational excellence and accelerate AI implementation across global supply chain networks.

“I’m excited to join Critical Manufacturing and support life sciences industry leaders in advancing operational excellence. By developing next-generation MES solutions and exploring the potential of AI-driven process flows, we can unlock a new level of lean optimization. Leveraging advanced technologies and proven methodologies, we aim to deliver superior quality assurance and scalability in highly regulated environments,” said Paul Straeten.

With Paul’s addition to the team, Critical Manufacturing reinforces its commitment to supporting the life sciences and medical device industries across global manufacturing and supply chain operations with advanced digital solutions.

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@mepaxIntPR #CriticalManf #ASMPT #Pauto

Production VP appointed.

To strengthen manufacturing integration and drive strategic growth initiatives.

Dr. Matthias Hohenleutner has been appointed as Vice President of Production with Toptica Photonics. This strategic leadership transition comes in response to Toptica’s continued growth and the increasing complexity of its production environment.

Matthias Hohenleutner

In his new role, Matthias Hohenleutner will oversee manufacturing operations, production planning, and manufacturing engineering. He will also be responsible for further integrating these areas into the Toptica Group. “With his technical expertise, in-depth knowledge of our production processes, and strong leadership, Matthias is ideally suited to guide our production into the future,” said Dr. Mathias Schindler, COO and Member of the Executive Board.

Matthias joined Toptica in 2016 as a project manager in R&D, focusing on frequency comb technologies. In 2018, he was promoted to lead the group responsible for custom-built ultrafast systems and laser reference solutions. By collaborating closely with business units and R&D, he successfully built and led a high-performing team.

With Dr. Matthias Hohenleutner taking on operational responsibility for production, Dr. Mathias Schindler will focus more strongly on strategic initiatives. By stepping back from day-to-day operations, he will concentrate on strengthening Toptica’s global competitiveness and advancing efficiency along the value chain. This division of responsibilities ensures both continuity in production excellence and a sharper focus on long-term growth.

Toptica Photonics welcomes the new VP Production and thanked Dr. Mathias Schindler for nearly a decade of his leadership in this role. “His dedication and vision have been instrumental in shaping Toptica’s manufacturing excellence,” said Dr. Wilhelm Kaenders, Founder and CTO of Toptica Photonics SE. “We are excited to see Mathias now focus more on the strategic levers of digitalization and automation that will define the next chapter of our industrial growth.”

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@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox #Pauto #Photonics

Fixed and portable gas and flame detection leadership.

New Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the Americas announced.

Gerald V. Sims brings a wealth of experience in gas utilities and a strong track record in sales leadership, both of which will help Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection to continue increasing its market share in this important geographic market.

Gerald V. Sims

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection has been broadening its presence in the Americas over many decades. The company has a US manufacturing site in Cypress, Texas (Teledyne Detcon), which for the past 40+ years has been providing the gas detection market with product solutions that include industrial-grade gas detectors, control systems, analyzers, and wireless technologies.

“Gerald will use his expertise and deep industry knowledge to play a pivotal role in maximizing our growth potential and enhancing the presence of our product brands across the Americas,” says Thibault Fourlegnie, Vice President and General Manager, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection. “We’re excited to see the gains that Gerald can provide, not just for Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, but also for our customers. After all, an even stronger Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection is beneficial for stakeholders up and down the supply chain, including distributors and end users.”

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection has brought together technological innovation from Detcon - along with those from Oldham Simtronics and GMI - to provide customers around the world with an extensive range of fixed-point and portable gas detection solutions. Every second of every day, the company’s hazardous gas detection devices protect both workers and assets at workplaces in a wide variety of industries, including oil and gas, utilities, water/wastewater, power generation, food and beverage, and firefighting. Gerald will leverage his know-how and market understanding to bolster Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection’s position as the preferred choice for these sectors.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gerald is a recognized leader in the business community, serving as Chairman on several industry associations. His contributions to advancing industry standards and practices are notable, making him a welcome addition to the Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection team.

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@mepaxIntPR #TeledyneGFD #PAuto #Safety

Leadeship change at photonics provider.

A significant management change has been announced by Laser Components UK. After 25 years at the helm, Chris Varney is stepping down as Managing Director and will be succeeded by Dan Barlow, who takes on the role of General Manager.

Dan Barlow

Dan Barlow, who joined Laser Components in January as head of sales, has an impressive track record in the photonics sector. He holds an MPhys (Hons) degree and brings nearly two decades of experience across markets such as Semiconductors, Industrial Lasers, Fiber Optics, and Optoelectronics and different industries including Life Sciences, Aerospace, and Defence. Throughout his career, he held leadership positions with both established industry players and innovative startups.

“I’m proud and humbled to have the opportunity to continue building on the legacy Chris has created here at Laser Components UK”, said Dan Barlow. “The foundations are good, the team is excellent, and I am confident we can continue to go from strength to strength here in the UK”.

Chris Varney

In his tenure as Managing Director, Chris Varney had played a pivotal role in the company’s transformation from a small operation into one of the Britain's most respected names in the photonics industry. Under his leadership, Laser Components has become a trusted partner to industries requiring advanced technology solutions, such as quantum technologies, oil and gas sensing, and fire detection. Looking back at a successful time in business he is now enjoying retirement.

“We are sad to lose a committed leader like Chris, but this is the way of the world”, said Patrick Paul, CEO of the Laser Components Group. “I am sure that Dan has the forward-thinking spirit that defines the DNA of our company. His deep industry knowledge will help Laser Components UK go beyond borders and into a bright future.”

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@LCGermany @lasercomp_uk @PresseBox #Automation

Chief Sales Officer Software in Pharma appointed.

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) leader in the pharmaceutical industry Körber, has announced the appointment of Arnaud Portet as the new Chief Sales Officer (CSO) for the software business of the Business Area Pharma. He succeeds Jan-Henrik Dieckert, who took over the role as Chief Operating Officer Software in the Körber Business Area Pharma.

Arnaud Portet

Arnaud Portet, a Sales Executive with over three decades of extensive experience, has been appointed as new Chief Sales Officer (CSO) starting on 1 April 2024. He has a proven track record in the manufacturing and software industry and has served eleven years at a market-leading software company. For the last four years, as Senior Sales Director, he supervised a team supporting customers Global Operations transformation with digital manufacturing and planning solutions. Before that, he held various other executive positions within different industries. With a Technical & Economy Engineering background from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, (D) he enlarged his knowledge with an Executive MBA in Strategic Company Management from Audencia Business School in Nantes, France.

He steps into his role at Körber with a clear vision: “My career has been driven by the pursuit of innovative solutions that meet the needs of our customers’ satisfaction. I am thrilled to continue this customer-centric approach at Körber and look forward to working at the forefront of digital-twin transformation in pharma, biotech, and cell & gene therapy manufacturing, driving growth and fostering strong relationships with our clients worldwide.”

“We are delighted to welcome Arnaud Portet as a member of the leadership team. As a profound software and manufacturing specialist, he is a perfect match for our software business,” says Jens Woehlbier, CEO Software, Körber Business Area Pharma. “His extensive experience in Sales and deep understanding of the manufacturing industry will be instrumental in driving our global market and sales strategies for our PAS-X MES and PAS-X Savvy Suites as well as our comprehensive service offering. We are sure that he will make a significant contribution to the successful and future-oriented further development of our global organization.”

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@WerumKarriere #Koerber #PAuto #Pharma

CTO for digital performance monitoring specialist.

Centreon has appointed Vincent Untz as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In this new role, Vincent will lead the technical team responsible for research and development (R&D), define Centreon’s technology strategy, and oversee the design and release of software solutions, including the implementation of Centreon Cloud, its SaaS solution.

Vincent Untz

Vincent’s main mission will be to ensure the Centreon monitoring software delivers maximum value and satisfaction to organizations and users, providing a rich, powerful, and scalable platform. Vincent will also be leading technological innovation and competitiveness efforts for Centreon's solutions, anticipating market trends and needs, particularly in the areas of AI-driven monitoring and Green IT, through functionalities that help optimize IT’s carbon footprint.

He comes to Centreon with a rich experience as a teacher and researcher at Grenoble’s Institut National Polytechnique and as a software engineer at SUSE. Before joining Centreon, he was VP Product & Engineering at Berger-Levrault. Vincent holds a PhD in Computer Science and an Executive MBA from EM-yon Business School.

Passionate about open source software, Vincent is fully involved and recognized in the global open source community. He has over 15 years of experience in Linux project management, including leadership of the openSUSE community project. As such, he will be one of the driving forces behind Centreon's open source commitment and will strengthen Centreon's leadership in this area.

"We are delighted to welcome Vincent to Centreon's Executive Committee. His extensive experience, skills, and knowledge will enable us to achieve our goal of becoming a global leader in IT monitoring in a highly competitive market. His unique open source software expertise is a strong asset for Centreon and underscores our commitment to the open source community," said Julien Mathis, Centreon’s CEO.

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@Centreon #PAuto #IT

Marketing drives in India.

Bhupesh Katakkar has joined the global innovator and manufacturer of variable frequency drives (VFD). He has worked with Invertek for more than nine years as a sales partner with a detailed knowledge of the automation sector and industries in India, having worked as an industrial electronics engineer in the drives and controls industry since 1992.

Bhupesh Katakkar

“Having worked with Invertek for many years I know only too well how its VFD technology is respected worldwide for its reliability, durability, and energy efficiency in motor control applications. Within the next three to five years I want to see Invertek as one of the top drives players in the Indian market and a force to reckon with,” he said.

“We have great potential for growth in India and it’s going to be exciting times developing new opportunities in a wide range of industries throughout the country.”

He will be responsible to Justin Peters, Factory Sales Manager, at Invertek Drives who has responsibility for the global sales team.

“Bhupesh has a thorough understanding of the market in India and having worked with us for many years as a sales partner he fully understands the strengths and benefits of our Optidrive variable frequency drive technology. We look forward to developing our brand and sales within the region,” said Justin.

Earlier this month Invertek revealed plans for a new £6.3m Innovation Centre at its global headquarters in in Britain. This is in addition to more than £10m being invested by its parent company, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, in an extension to its manufacturing facility, allowing it to increase production to 1.2m units a year.

A new Application and Training Centre has also been completed at the site and is due to be officially opened in June.

@Invertek_Drives #PAuto

CEO for manufacturer of base station antennas.

Reine Eriksson has been appointed as the new CEO of CellMax Technologies AB*, as of February 1st , 2022.

Reine Eriksson

His long industry experience and track record building global business' towards the telecom sector will help CellMax to meet the significantly increased demands for high performing antennas .

The operational experience and global industry knowledge will be a great asset in taking CellMax into its next expansive phase. Reine Eriksson has held a number of executive positions in public and most recent a privately held company where he built a global business area for a SW as a service company.

*CellMax, member of the Rosenberger Group, develops and produces high-gain, high-efficiency antennas that offer increased network performance, lower total cost of ownership, higher subscriber satisfaction and higher revenues. The high efficiency comes from a patented design unlike any other on the market. CellMax today provides antennas to tier 1 operators with the best performing networks in the world. Based out of Sweden, CellMax provides performance antenna solutions around the globe and remains a key asset in the Rosenberger Group.

@PresseBox #Rosenberger #Cellmax #Communications

New CEO appointed at energy harvesting pioneer.

After 20 successful years, the last five of them as Managing Director of EnOcean, co-founder Andreas Schneider has left the company at his own request on 31 July 2021 to take on new entrepreneurial challenges. Raoul Wijgergangs succeeds him as EnOcean’s new CEO. He has over 20 years of experience in the IoT industry and is also a co-founder of the Z-Wave Alliance.

"I would like to personally thank Andreas Schneider for his constant commitment and tireless dedication to the company and every single employee," said Dr. Peter Klein, CFO. "Under his leadership EnOcean has been able to expand and consolidate its market position even further. The fact that we as a company have successfully come through the Corona crisis confirms this. The entire EnOcean team and I wish him all the best for the future. At the same time, I am looking forward to the upcoming collaboration with Raoul Wijgergangs as the new CEO and I am sure that together we will build on the outstanding work of Andreas Schneider."

The new CEO Raoul Wijgergangs said "I am honoured that the Management Board puts so much trust in me as the new Managing Director, and I am very much looking forward to this new professional chapter. As the world leader in sustainable IoT, EnOcean will certainly be even more in demand in the coming months and years. With that in mind I see great opportunities not only in the commercial real estate but also in the industrial IoT. What’s more, the company’s focus on interoperability with products supporting the EnOcean radio standard, Bluetooth Low Energy and Zigbee Green Power makes it a real IoT power house. I thank Andreas Schneider for his successful work over the last years, without him EnOcean would certainly not be where the company is today. And of course I’m very much looking forward to be working with such an innovative team with a strong expertise and great technical know-how."

Before joining EnOcean, Wijgergangs was CEO at Disruptive Technologies in Oslo and worked as Vice President/General Manager at Silicon Labs as well as Vice President/General Manager of the Z-Wave business unit at Sigma Designs in Copenhagen, to name but a few positions. He studied Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at H.T.S.’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, and completed his MBA at the Twente School of Management, University of Twente, Netherlands.

@EnOcean @NeeshamPR #PAuto #Energy

Changing of the guard in Global technology and automation group.

Emerson announce new Chief Executive Officer

Lal Karsanbhai

Emerson has announced that chief executive officer David N. Farr is to retire on February 5 2021. Lal Karsanbhai, who has served as executive president of the company’s Automation Solutions business since 2018, will become the new CEO of Emerson and join the board of directors. Karsanbhai has led Automation Solutions to strong performance, elevating Emerson’s software profile and digital transformation business.

Karsanbhai, who is currently a member of Emerson’s Office of the Chief Executive, leads a business with $11.2 billion in global sales in 2020. The Automation Solutions business offers advanced technologies, software and services to process, discrete and hybrid businesses in industries that include life sciences, power, energy, food and beverage, and water and wastewater.

 

“I am humbled by the Emerson board and David’s confidence in me,” Karsanbhai said. “This is an exciting time for the organisation as we continue growing Emerson’s global software footprint and expanding the company’s support of essential industries. I am honoured to carry the legacy of Emerson’s leadership into the future and look forward to working with the Office of the Chief Executive to drive these vital goals.”

 

Karsanbhai began his career at Emerson in 1995 as an international planner. He was appointed director of corporate planning in 1999, served as vice president of regulator technologies from 2002 to 2005, when he became vice president and general manager of natural gas for Emerson in France. He was named president of Emerson’s Fisher regulator technologies in 2008, a role he held until 2012, when he became vice president of planning with responsibility for Emerson’s global strategy. He was named president of Emerson’s former Network Power business in Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2014 and became group president of Emerson’s Rosemount measurement & analytical business in 2016.

 

During his tenure at Emerson, Karsanbhai has worked in Europe, Africa and North America. He is fluent in Portuguese, French and English. Karsanbhai has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

 

Farr, who was named CEO in 2000 and chairman of Emerson’s board of directors in 2004, will remain as chairman until May 4. Over his two decades at the helm of the $16.8 billion global company, Farr has led Emerson through multiple strategic evolutions to grow the company’s global footprint, stay ahead of changing market conditions and advance the organisation’s capabilities and competitiveness on the worldwide stage.

 

“David is a tremendous leader who has brought the company through difficult times – 9/11, the dot-com bubble, the Great Recession and now a global pandemic – with conviction and an unwavering belief in the strength of Emerson,” said Clemens A.H. Boersig, lead independent director of Emerson’s board. “Emerson has a long history of strong leaders in the corner office, with David being just the third CEO in the last 66 years. We wish him the best in his retirement and are grateful to have his expertise in the coming months as chairman of the board.”

 

Under Farr’s leadership, Emerson has transformed from a components manufacturing company to an industrial software leader with a singular purpose uniting nearly 85,000 employees – ‘We drive innovation that makes the world healthier, safer, smarter and more sustainable’. Farr built on the company’s longstanding disciplined management strategy, making it one of the few companies to increase its dividend to shareholders for 64 consecutive years.

 

Additionally, Farr has been a fierce champion and sought-after voice for manufacturing. He served as chairman of the board of the National Association of Manufacturers from 2017 to 2019, working on Capitol Hill to advocate and advance initiatives that would build industry in the United States. Farr serves on the board of directors for the US-China Business Council and has been a member of the board of directors of IBM since 2012. He and his wife are highly committed to the St. Louis community, and Farr currently serves on the executive board of the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis (The Muny at Forest Park). He has also served on the boards of directors for many non-profits and educational institutions, including the United Way of Greater St. Louis, and is an active supporter of Forest Park Forever.

 

David N Farr

David Farr

Farr joined Emerson in 1981 in a corporate staff position and progressed through corporate and business unit management positions with increasing responsibility before being appointed president of Emerson’s Asia-Pacific operations in 1993. After four years in Hong Kong, Farr returned to the United States in 1997 to oversee Emerson’s process control business. He was appointed chief operating officer in 1999, a position he held until being named CEO.

 

“I have had the opportunity to work alongside Lal during his 25-year career at Emerson and have observed his strengths and proven skill as a seasoned leader with a deep understanding of both business operations and the markets we serve,” Farr said. “The board of directors has been actively engaged throughout our five-year succession process, and we are confident Lal is well-positioned to continue building on Emerson’s legacy of success.”

@Emerson_News @EMR_Automation @HHC_Lewis #PAuto 

Sales & Manufacturing manager for gas analyser manufacturer.

The gas analyser manufacturer Signal Group has announced the appointment of Stephane Canadas as Sales and Marketing Manager. 

Stephane Canadas

“In recent years we have invested heavily in product development, so this is a great time for Stephane to join the company,” comments Signal MD James Clements. “In many respects, our latest products are significantly ahead of other analysers on the market, so Stephane will be focused on expanding our global distribution network and explaining the advantages of these instruments to our rapidly expanding customer base.

“As an electronics engineer with 30 years of experience in instrumentation, working in product management, projects, sales and marketing positions for world leading automation and analytical companies, Stephane has hit the ground running at Signal, and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.”

Stephane says: “With my technical background and a career spent understanding the needs of engineers, I am hugely excited by this opportunity to exploit the impressive features that Signal has designed into its products.

“The new Series IV analysers, with removable screens and the latest communications capabilities, will disrupt the gas analyser market, and the prospect of QAL 1 approval for the Signal FIDs will be of great interest to any organisation with a need to measure VOC emissions.”

Born in France, but having lived most of his life in Britain, Stephane is bilingual and is particularly looking forward to developing Signal’s international operations.

@GasAnalysers @_Enviro_News #PAuto 

Machine vision board changes.

The Supervisory Board of Stemmer Imaging has appointed Uwe Kemm to the company’s Executive Board effective from 01 April 2020. As a member of the Executive Board (COO) he will be responsible for the further development and implementation of key initiatives in the context of corporate strategy in addition to overseeing operations in key business units.

Uwe Kemm

Uwe Kemm has more than 30 years of experience as a manager in international and national companies in the technology industry. His responsibilities included, in particular sales and business development as well as successful market launches of new products and technologies. In addition he has assumed responsibility for various company acquisitions as well as organizational development, integration and change management.

At the same time, Martin Kersting (CTO) resigned from the Executive Board as of 31 March 2020 for personal reasons and is leaving the company at his own request. However, he will remain involved in an active advisory function.

"On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Martin Kersting for his many years of very dedicated service to the company. In Uwe Kemm, we have gained a technology expert with many years of management experience with both a global player and with a number of medium-sized companies in the software market," said Klaus Weinmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Stemmer Imaging AG. "We wish him continued success and look forward to working with him in a trustful cooperation".

"Since summer 2019, Uwe Kemm has provided key inputs and achieved decisive results in strategic projects in a consultancy capacity for the company. I am looking forward to a successful cooperation",  added Arne Dehn (CEO)

#PAuto @stemmerimaging

Security sales organisation strengthened.

Bedrock Automation has appointed Jesse K. Hill as Executive Director of Sales. Hill will lead Bedrock Automation’s expanding programs to sell OSA Open Secure Automation to oil and gas, utilities and other automation-intensive, security-conscious industries.

Jesse K Hill.

“Interest in Open Secure Automation is taking off, as companies in the energy infrastructure are beginning to appreciate the cost, performance and flexibility benefits of open automation but recognize also the need to secure it. To bring OSA to that growing market, we are expanding our sales organization. And with outstanding experience in managing automation sales teams – especially in the oil and gas sector – Jesse Hill comes eminently qualified to lead this effort,” said Bedrock founder and CEO Albert Rooyakkers.

Before joining Bedrock, Hill led automation sales teams for automation technology leaders such as Turck, Wago, and Pepperl+Fuchs. He brings a deep understanding of the automation performance and security needs of the oil and gas market and has a proven track record of delivering them the products that meet those needs.

Hill will lead the Bedrock sales teams in selling all Bedrock products, including the Bedrock OSA industrial control system, the OSA Remote compact control system, OSA Power products and supporting cabling and accessories. For more information about Bedrock Open Secure Automation solutions visit www.bedrockautomation.com/products.

Hill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Information and Operations Management from Texas A&M University. He will be based in Houston (TX USA).

#PAuto @BedrockAuto

Energy harvesting experts strengthen British coverage.

EnOcean has appointed Simon Johnson to manage their sales in Britain. The specification specialist will be working to promote their successful energy harvesting technology into this fast-growing market including smart building projects and the emerging trend of modular homes. Simon will work closely together with John Corbett, Sales Director UK at EnOcean, and report to Jürgen Baryla, Vice President Sales.

Simon Johnson

Simon Johnson joins EnOcean from Theben AG, a specialist in smart home technology focussed on KNX, where he spent three years as Sales and Specification Specialist. Simon previously ran his own electrical contracting business. He has a keen interest in modern building control solutions, with a number of family home renovation projects to his name making him aware of the specific requirements.

“We are delighted to have Simon join the team with his high level of experience,” said Jürgen Baryla. “He has a successful track record of sales of smart building technology, as well as unique insight into installing these technologies and making them work in a real building environment. We believe he will be a real asset to our UK customers.”

Commenting, Simon said, “I am excited to be joining EnOcean. The company is extremely well placed to develop and manufacture the energy harvesting products needed for the smart future of our buildings. I believe EnOcean is in a unique position. It is a pioneer in energy harvesting devices and is large enough to invest in new ideas but small enough to be flexible.”

Smart building control solutions are proving popular in the territory with more commercial and residential projects adopting the technology. Legislation and tougher controls on energy usage are likely to further boost demand, which EnOcean is ready to fulfil enabling highly flexible and maintenance-free sensor solutions. “There can be huge benefits from monitoring the usage of buildings and internal environments using cleverly deployed sensors,” added Simon Johnson. “These include increased productivity, higher comfort, reduced energy costs, proactive rather than reactive facilities management and better use of space.”

@EnOcean #Appointment #Britain #BAC

Editor of automation publication announced.

Renee Bassett has been named Chief Editor of the ISA's InTech magazine and Automation.com their digital content-delivery site for automation professionals.

Renee Bassett

Bassett is replacing Bill Lydon, who will however continue with the publications as Contributing Editor. Bill, who became editor at InTech almost ten years ago will remain a very important member of the editorial team. Read-out has had many contacts with him and Read-out's Eoin Ó Riain, as a former Vice President ISA Publications Dept (2011-2012), values his expertese and friendship.

Bassett joins ISA’s highly experienced team of publishing professionals that include Lydon, ISA’s Group Publisher Rick Zabel, and Content Editor Cory Fogg. In her role, Bassett will work with Zabel to determine publication and content strategy, develop content and manage the publications’ contributors, staff and production processes.

Bassett is an expert content creator, media manager, and marketing communications specialist in the areas of industrial manufacturing, technology and automation. She possesses more than 20 years of experience in content generation for technical and non-technical audiences. Over the course of her career, Bassett has provided her services to leading automation publications—including Automation World and Control Engineering—and developed and implemented media and communications programs for companies such as Rockwell Automation, Siemens, Moxa, Mitsubishi Electric, and Wonderware/AVEVA. She previously served as: Content Creator and Vice President at Trade Press Media Group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Deputy Editor at PMMI Media Group in Chicago, Illinois.

@ISA_Interchange  #PAuto

CAN board relected.

On the annual CiA General Assembly, the members re-elected the three members of the board: Uwe Koppe (Technical Director), Christian Schlegel (Business Director), and Holger Zeltwanger (Managing Director).

LtoR: Christian Schlegel (HMS), Holger Zeltwanger, and Uwe Koppe

Besides the board-of-directors, the General Assembly elected the members of the CiA Technical Committee (TC) and of the CiA Business Committee (BC). Bosch, Emsa, Emtas, ESD Electronics, and HMS Networks are the elected members of the CiA Technical Committee. Additionally, the TC comprises representatives of the Interest Groups (IG) CANopen, CANopen FD, CAN layer-1/2, CiA profiles, security and safety as well as J1939 (commercial vehicles). The BC is build by representatives of the Marketing Groups Lift and CANopen FD as well as the elected members (Emtas, ESD Electronics, Janz Tec, Microcontrol, and Vector).

In the annual meeting also those companies having not paid their membership fee for 2018 were excluded. The proposed budget for 2019 was accepted. T

his year, CiA will exhibit at Bauma, Interlift, and SPS (all in Germany) as well as at Itap (Singapore).

@CANopen #PAuto

Test & Measurement Sector Head appointed.

GAMBICA has apointed Sally Edgington as their new sector head for the Test & Measurement Sector and Axrem Director. She is completing a handover period with Alan Birks, who will retire at the end of March 2019.

Sally Edgington

Sally brings relevant association experience with her, having previously worked at the British Healthcare Trades Association with responsibility for membership engagement, retention and recruitment as well as external stakeholder engagement and event management.

In addition to supporting GAMBICA’s existing member companies, Sally will focus on increasing the representation of the Test & Measurement industry in Britain. She will also take over the role of Director at Axrem, the association for suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment in Britain, for which GAMBICA provides the secretariat.

Commenting, Sally said “I am excited to use my knowledge of membership organisations to fulfil this multi-functional role, and in particular my knowledge of the healthcare and assistive technology sector in my role for AXREM. I am really looking forward to meeting members and learning more about the work of GAMBICA and AXREM, and to see how I can help develop the work further.”

@gambica #TandM @sally_edgington @_AXREM