Witz named Harbor Department HR Director
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved the appointment of Sandy Witz as Director of Human Resources Services to lead the division that oversees the Port’s human capital strategies. The Port of Long Beach has about 550 employees. Witz, the former Port Assistant Director of Human Resources, had been serving in a consulting role as Acting HR Director. She was selected for the permanent position following a competitive search after the previous HR director, Stacey Lewis, announced her retirement. Witz joined the Port of Long Beach in 2018 as Assistant Director of Human Resources, serving until May of last year. Prior to coming to the Port, she worked for the City of Anaheim Human Resources for more than 20 years serving in various leadership positions. Witz earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at California State University, Long Beach, and a master’s of public administration at the University of Southern California. She is the current president and past board member for the Southern California Public Management Association-Human Resources. The appointment of Witz is effective Jan. 15.
Helmut Schmid takes over the helm at AGILOX
AGILOX makes new top management appointments. Helmut Schmid takes over as CEO in January 2022, as successor to the previous CEO Franz Humer. Schmid will continue the AMR manufacturer’s ongoing strategy to expand its global market share. As the sole managing director of AGILOX, he also adds three new authorized signatories to the management team, Josef Baumann-Rott, Klaus Pucher, and Robert Mayer. Helmut Schmid, who was the head of Germany and Western Europe at cobot market leader Universal Robots for many years, is now taking over as CEO of AGILOX. With Schmid, an internationally experienced managing director, and robotics enthusiast, the company is continuing on its path of further expansion. In his previous appointment, Schmid was Managing Director of the German cobot pioneer Franka Emika GmbH in Munich. New leadership for AGILOX Helmut Schmid is a specialist in growth strategies, business development, change management, internationalization, sales and marketing. In his long career, he has already founded several companies, managed them profitably, and, in particular, implemented scalable business models, often developing new sales processes and structures and implementing new go-to-market strategies in a targeted manner. The graduate aircraft engineer has also made a name for himself as co-founder of the German Robotics Association and Robotics Ventures GmbH. Now, the new CEO of AGILOX wants to drive forward the company’s further development and internationalize it. “AGILOX is a brand with a strong base and an equally high market potential. I look forward to contributing my experience to the company in order to continue to develop it profitably and position it durably on the market,” says Schmid. Seamless transition “With his years of experience in the robotics environment, Helmut Schmid brings in-depth technical as well as management expertise, and now as CEO of AGILOX, can further develop the company from its excellent starting position and support our planned growth with the goal of becoming the world’s leading AMR provider,” said Dr. Thorsten Dippel, Managing Director of the Carlyle Group, which has been involved as a key partner of AGILOX since June 2021. Daniel Haider, Managing Director of Raiffeisen Invest Holding GmbH & Co KG, likewise highlights the international industry experience of the new CEO: “We are very pleased that such a renowned expert in robotics is putting his trust in AGILOX. With Helmut Schmid as our new CEO, we are continuing the drive for dynamic growth at an international level.” The company’s previous CEO, Franz Humer, is also pleased with the new top manager: “It was particularly important to us as founders that the new CEO continues AGILOX’s successfully established strategy for the future while furthering our brand DNA. In Helmut Schmid, AGILOX is getting a CEO who will develop the company progressively and keep us on the right track for the future.” Schmid is also looking forward to the new challenge: “I am looking forward to continuing the good preparation work with the entire team and from now on, become a contributor to the AGILOX success story. Internationalization and the further expansion of the headquarters in Neukirchen near Lambach are just a few of the major topics I am looking forward to addressing.” Franz Humer is joining the Board of AGILOX as Executive Chairman and will prepare the company’s next strategic steps, notably in the area of product development and organization in the US. Dirk Erlacher is moving to China and will build up the Asian market from Shanghai.
Seeq recognizes its 2021 Reseller and Service Partners of the Year
Seeq’s annual partner awards program honors excellence in delivering the next generation of process manufacturing improvements Seeq Corporation, a manufacturing and industrial internet of things advanced analytics software, has announced its 2021 Reseller and Service Partners of the Year. These partners have been selected for their excellence in providing value to customers, their continued investments in technical expertise with their Seeq-certified employees and training professionals, and for creating awareness of Seeq through collaboration in marketing activities and events. Seeq enables engineers and scientists in process manufacturing organizations to rapidly analyze, predict, collaborate, and share insights to improve production outcomes. Seeq customers include companies in the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, mining, food and beverage, and other process industries. Investors in Seeq include Insight Ventures, Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, Altira Group, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Cisco Investments. In 2021, Seeq announced a $50 million Series C funding round led by Insight Partners, was recognized by Frost & Sullivan’s North American Technology Innovation Leadership Award for Seeq Data Lab, and expanded its products and capabilities, including support for machine learning innovation. “We are pleased to select four companies as our 2021 Reseller and Service Partners of the Year,” says Will Knight, Head of Worldwide Partner Sales at Seeq. “These awards recognize the impact these partners have on empowering our customers to create advanced analytics insights and the standards they have set for excellence in delivering the next generation of process manufacturing improvements.” Resellers of the Year Asia Pacific Nukon is Seeq’s 2021 Asia Pacific Partner of the Year. Nukon was selected among Seeq’s reselling partners for its focus on customer support and its tremendous growth in the Australian market, more than doubling its revenue over the previous year. The company provides a variety of OT and IT solutions and services to its clients in the consumer goods, infrastructure, utilities, and waste management industries. “We’re honored to be selected as a Seeq Partner of the Year for the second year running,” says Alec Konynenburg, General Manager at Nukon. “Nukon prides itself on providing the best solutions for clients, and Seeq’s capability allows us to do this through their unique set of offerings. The Nukon and Seeq partnership is built on joint values and commitment to our customers, and we’re excited to continue to provide this value in 2022 and beyond.” Americas Swan-Black is Seeq’s 2021 Americas Partner of the Year. Swan-Black was selected for its rapid growth in the Americas and globally, and its support for Seeq’s customers in the food and beverage and bioscience industries. Swan-Black has expertise in batch and continuous manufacturing processes, with a focus on applying advanced analytics to improve business outcomes. “We are incredibly honored to be recognized by Seeq as Partner of the Year for the Americas,” says Joe Gardner, Practice Lead at Swan-Black. “The Seeq solution and the team’s support of our efforts empower us to deliver meaningful process data insights for our customers, leading to increased process efficiency and optimization. We look forward to our continued partnership with Seeq and the value it will bring our customers well into the future.” EMEA Crucial Solutions and Services (CSS) is Seeq’s 2021 EMEA Partner of the Year. CSS was selected for its support and leadership of Seeq’s customers in the Middle East, notably its collaboration on Saudi Aramco’s industrial digitalization initiatives. The company provides a variety of technology offerings to its clients in the oil and gas, petrochemical, and power and utility industries. “CSS is dedicated to providing customers with game-changing services and solutions that optimize their efficiency and enhance business growth,” says Sulaiman Alzuhair, Founder and CEO at CSS. “Seeq’s complementary products and capabilities enable CSS to achieve this mission and we are honored to be selected as the Seeq Partner of the Year for EMEA.” Service Partner of the Year BKO Services LLC is Seeq’s first Service Partner of the Year recipient. BKO was selected for its expertise in the oil and gas and power generation industries, its work on Shell’s upstream digital initiatives and Tranter’s use of advanced digital tools to manage its clients’ fleet of heat transfer equipment, and its investment in Seeq-certified employees. In 2021 alone, BKO added five certified partner analytics engineers and one certified instructor to its team. The company provides data engineering, machine learning, and OSIsoft application development services for the oil and gas, power, and other process manufacturing industries. “As the true value of data analytics and machine learning become more apparent, technology must not only keep pace with the increasing availability of data but effectively utilize it to improve operations and safety,” says Shaun Wright, CEO of BKO. “We are pleased and proud to be a Seeq partner and part of the radical mindset shift driving this rapidly emerging field of science and technology.” Seeq’s worldwide growth is fueled in part by its partnerships and commitment to cloud-based computing. Seeq is available in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) marketplace, is an AWS Industrial and Energy Competency Partner, and supports many data storage services, including Amazon Redshift, S3, plus machine learning in SageMaker, and others. On Microsoft Azure, Seeq has been available as a SaaS application in the Azure Marketplace since 2019, with support for many Azure cloud services including Synapse, Azure Data Lake, and Active Directory. Seeq also supports connectivity to Azure Data Explorer, Time Series Insights, and Power BI. In addition to cloud partnerships, Seeq connects to an extensive set of data storage platforms from vendors including OSIsoft, Siemens, GE, Honeywell, Inductive Automation, AVEVA, AspenTech, Yokogawa, InfluxDB, Snowflake, and others.
MH Engineered Solutions receives MVP Industry Award for the Ninth Consecutive Year
MH Engineered Solutions has been awarded the prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award for its accomplishments in 2021. For the ninth consecutive year, MH Engineered Solutions has earned an MVP Award from the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association). Award recipients must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the association’s membership earning the award. As a 2022 MVP, MH Engineered Solutions has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism, and good stewardship. To qualify for the annual MVP Award companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees, and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas: Industry Advocacy Customer Service & Safety Practices Business Networking Continuing Education Business Best Practices Actively Give Back in Community “With receiving our ninth consecutive annual MHEDA MVP Award, we are humbled by this great honor and appreciate the public acknowledgment and recognition. The MHEDA MVP Award solidifies our vision as a company to being regarded as an employer of choice, trustworthy partner, and ethical market leader in our communities. We are honored for this award and look forward to proving our commitment to our partners again in 2022,” stated Scott Hennie, MH Engineered Solutions President. “Achieving the MVP Award demonstrates a company’s dedication to constantly improving the material handling industry. It is an honor and privilege for MHEDA to have so many companies achieve this award that requires continual improvement in customer and employee satisfaction and never-ending education of our industry throughout your organization.” Tom Albero, Chairman and CEO of Alliance Material Handling, Inc. and 2022 MHEDA Chairman.
Darein Gandall named CEO of Cisco-Eagle
Effective January 13, 2022, Darein Gandall has been named CEO and Chairman of the Board of Cisco-Eagle, a Dallas-based material handling systems integrator. Previous CEO Warren Gandall will now serve as Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors. Warren Gandall founded Cisco-Eagle in 1970 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and his partner William D. Cupps transitioned Cisco-Eagle into an employee-owned company in 2000. During this time, Cisco-Eagle grew from a single location to offices in nine states and customers in over 70 countries. Warren Gandall taps his decades of experience and creativity to provide advice and consultation to Cisco-Eagle in his new role. “I’m proud of what we’ve built,” Warren said. “I’m probably most proud that we passed ownership to the people who built it—the employees. They have driven our innovation and growth. I’m elated that Darein has agreed to guide them as the company moves ahead.” Before he became President in 2013, Darein Gandall served as Oklahoma Sales Director. He joined the company in 1992 following his graduation from the University of Tulsa and served in sales, warehousing, and customer service throughout his career. During his tenure as president, Cisco-Eagle’s revenue and markets grew substantially as it improved and strengthened its processes, empowered its sales groups, created a more agile management structure, developed key customer partnerships, built industry-leading eCommerce capabilities and expanded into new markets. “The new role allows me to focus more on our company’s future growth and strategic objectives,” Gandall said. “We’ve been in business since 1970, but have the heart of a startup, and that’s why we’re successful. I’d like to thank my father for this opportunity, but I’m deeply grateful to our employee-owners. Warren always taught me that if we take care of our people, they’ll take care of everything else.”
Fairchild Equipment becomes eight-time MHEDA MVP
Fairchild Equipment has been awarded the prestigious Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Award for 2022, based on accomplishments in 2021. For the eighth consecutive year, Fairchild Equipment has earned the MVP Award from the industry’s trade association, Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA). In order to qualify for this MVP Award, each recipient must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the association’s membership earning the award; and as a 2022 MVP, Fairchild Equipment has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism, and good stewardship. To qualify for the annual MVP Award companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees, and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas: · Industry Advocacy · Customer Service & Safety Practices · Business Networking · Continuing Education · Business Best Practices “I know I say it every year, but this award means everything to our company,” Van Clarkson, Fairchild Equipment’s president, and MHEDA Board Member said. “It embodies our core values,” he continued, “How we want to be perceived in our markets, by our customers, and by our employees. It is truly an honor to achieve this status and a testament to the hard work from our family of employees.” “Achieving the MVP Award demonstrates a company-wide effort to maintain the highest business standards, customer service, employee development, and commitment to the betterment of the material handling industry. MHEDA is very proud of our award-winning members,” Ted Springer, President of Springer Equipment Co., Inc., and 2021 MHEDA Chairman said. Fairchild Equipment strives every day to provide a dynamic and comprehensive customer experience, with a team that is dedicated to industry experience, knowledge , and customer service. The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier trade association dedicated to serving all segments of the material handling business community. MHEDA represents close to 600 companies in the material handling equipment business. Located in suburban Chicago, the association provides services to companies seeking to improve their business through education, networking, benchmarking and best practices.
Raymond Welders and Assemblyman earn positions in Toyota Material Handling Group global competition
Raymond’s award-winning welding and assembly associates prove skills year after year The Raymond Corporation and its employees will showcase their expert skills in welding and assembly by competing in the international Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG) Skills Competition. Welders Dave Micha and Seth Keiser, along with assemblyman Eric Lee won the annual Raymond competitions in the autumn of 2021, which included a written test and technical skills test. TMHG is conducting a global Skills Competition in January 2022 which presents a select opportunity for individual companies such as Raymond to offer entrants to the Competition. Winners from Raymond’s competitions will have the opportunity to compete with other leading international welders and assembly specialists. Micha, a top competitor from Raymond’s Greene, New York facility, and Keiser, a top competitor from Raymond’s Muscatine, Iowa facility, received the highest overall scores in the Raymond welding competition. Both will showcase their skills at the TMHG Skills Competition for welding by performing a series of tasks, including welding a steel pressure vessel, performing tack welding, and finishing the surface. Judges will virtually observe competitors during the event, and their weldments will be shipped to Japan for final inspection and selection of the winners. “It is a great honor to be invited to participate in the prestigious TMHG Skills Competition among such amazing competitors from around the world,” Micha said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to sharpen my skills and learn from fellow welders. The knowledge I will gain from this competition will help to foster the continuous improvement we strive for daily at The Raymond Corporation.” Lee, a reach truck assemblyman who’s worked at Raymond for three years, received the highest overall scores in the Raymond assembly competition and will showcase his skills at the TMHG Skills Competition for assembly through a series of assembly tests, including tests designed to showcase assembly speed and accuracy as well as tool control and safety. “I’m excited to be representing The Raymond Corporation at the upcoming TMHG Skills Competition,” Lee said. “It’s a great privilege to compete with such skilled competitors and to showcase Raymond’s commitment to quality and expertise in the materials handling industry.” Raymond’s internal welding competition began in 2015 and the assembly competition in 2019, with the goal of helping promote friendly competition and enhancing skills and knowledge among its welding and assembly teams. Each year after, the competition winners have earned the invitation by Toyota to compete in the TMHG Skills Competition. “The manufacturing industry is advancing and growing through innovative processes and technology, and that is pushing our industry to reach new levels,” said Steve VanNostrand, executive vice president of human resources at The Raymond Corporation. “By taking what they learned from the competition and translating it into actionable items, our employees are continuously improving their skills to create the highest quality products for our customers.”
Flight Systems Industrial Products positioned for future growth
FSIP, a provider in manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, and electrical system design for the electric vehicle industry, announced the promotions of Ben Richwine, Director of Sales; Dustin England, Director of Engineering; and Dustin Love, Motive Power Sales Lead. Ben Richwine, Director of Sales, started with FSIP in 2017. Ben united the Sales and Sales Support Teams, creating deeper customer relationships and growing sales volumes along the way. “Ben has a strong sales background, customer-centric approach, and quickly adapts to an evolving marketplace. His dedication, collaborative team-focus, helped drive FSIP sales to new highs in 2021,” stated Pam Jones, General Manager. Dustin England, Director of Engineering, joined FSIP in 2002. He has been instrumental in improving manufacturing efficiency, driving the Electric System Design team development processes, calibrating the engineering department, and leading the manufacturing and service center support teams. Dustin will take on the additional responsibilities of New Product Development in his new role. Dustin Love, Motive Power Sales Lead, began his career as a technician in 2015. His technical background set him up for quick success transferring to the sales team in 2019. “Dustin’s strong sales skills and passion for the products enabled the Green and Xtender product lines to grow 100% this past year. As the product line continues to grow and the EV market advances, Dustin’s ability to find and generate new business will be crucial to continued success,” said Ben Richwine, Director of Sales. “We have an extremely strong and adaptable team at FSIP. It’s wonderful to be able to promote from within. I couldn’t be prouder. FSIP has evolved into a much different company than what we were 50+ years ago. With the EV market continually advancing, it will be crucial to plan for growth and find where the next opportunity is for us” affirmed Pam Jones.
Knudsen to ride into retirement after 42 years in the transport industry
Gary Knudsen, Felling Trailers’ Regional Sales Manager, has been a part of the heavy equipment and transport industry for a little over 42-years and has chosen to retire at the end of 2021. About 17 of those years have been spent selling trailers; 4-years with Towmaster and the last 13-years with Felling Trailers. Gary joined the Felling Trailers’ team in June of 2008 as the North American Outside Sales Rep. He provided dealer support for ten states spanning from Alaska to the Dakota’s (North & South Dakota) to Arkansas, Texas, and the Canadian region. During his time with the Felling Trailers, Gary worked to expand the company’s footprint across many industries, from the heavy haulers in the oil fields of Canada to the underground construction and paving arenas in the US (United States). Gary also worked internally with the engineering team to design, test, and implement the X-Force hydraulic detachable gooseneck line. “Gary’s product knowledge along with his 20 plus years of experience as an owner/operator in the trucking industry gave us great insight on what the consumer wanted and needed in a detachable gooseneck,” said Pat Jennissen, Felling Trailers VP of Sales & Marketing. Felling Trailers’ introduced the X-Force Hydraulic Detachable Gooseneck trailer line to the industry in 2010 and has continued to grow their product offerings each year. Gary has built many working relationships with dealers and customers alike through the years, solving transport problems other manufacturers said were unsolvable. Felling’s Trailer Experts (Sales Team) work with dealers/customers to configure a trailer that will meet the desired specifications and provide a custom solution. “Gary has been a great asset to Felling Trailers since he joined the team in 2008. His vast market and product knowledge, experience, and dedication are greatly appreciated. We wish him well in his retirement!” said Nathan Uphus, Felling Trailers’ Sales Manager. “Stepping away from the life of being a “trailer salesman” may take some getting used to. For Gary and probably many other salespeople, it’s not just about the sale. It’s about the relationships you build with your customers. As for us here at Felling Trailers, we thank you for your service. You have played a big part in what Felling Trailers is today. Enjoy retirement, Gary!” said Pat Jennissen, Felling Trailers VP of Sales & Marketing. Those in the industry who have had the opportunity to know and work with Gary know he is an avid motorcyclist. He will be shutting down his computer for the last time on 12-31-21, then hitting to road to put on the first miles in his retirement. “It’s been a fun ride. I am glad to have had the chance to meet and work with all the people I have along the way. Thank you all. It’s been a pleasure,” said Gary Knudsen.
East Penn Manufacturing Co. receives Industry Award for the seventh consecutive year
East Penn Manufacturing Co., has earned the prestigious MVS (Most Valuable Supplier) Award for achievements in 2021. The MVS Award is granted by the industry’s trade association, MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association) to less than 10% of all member companies. This is the seventh consecutive year that East Penn has earned the MVS Award. This industry award recognizes companies who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their dealer network, their employees, and their community. To qualify for the MVS Award, East Penn was required to meet a series of criteria in a number of areas important to the distributor companies who do business with them. In addition to confirming an ongoing commitment to safety and employee training, award recipients must provide documentation of active participation in a program that “gives back.” MVS Award winners have demonstrated an overall commitment to business excellence by documenting programs in the following areas: Industry Advocacy Distributor Advocacy Business Networking Continuing Education Business Best Practices Doug Bouquard, VP/GM of Motive Power Sales stated “East Penn is honored to again receive the MVS (Most Valuable Supplier) Award from MHEDA. As the only battery manufacturer to achieve this award seven consecutive years, it is truly an amazing accomplishment and only possible through the continued commitment of our employees, our independently owned North American dealer network, and the customers we serve. We also want to thank MHEDA for continuing to serve as a premier resource for the material handling industry.” Achieving the MVS Award demonstrates a company-wide effort to maintain the highest business standards, customer service, employee development, and commitment to the betterment of the material handling industry. MHEDA is very proud of our award-winning members.” Ted Springer, President of Springer Equipment Co., Inc. and 2021 MHEDA Chairman.
Alfred Estrada joins Flow-Rite as VP of Sales
Flow-Rite, a manufacturer of injection-molded fluid control components for marine, RV, and industrial use, has hired Alfred Estrada as its new VP of sales. Company president Todd Hart made the announcement. In his new role, Estrada is responsible for developing and implementing key growth strategies and sales action plans. As part of Flow-Rite’s leadership team, he meets with the company’s sales managers to assess annual sales performance targets and customer base expansion. Estrada has over 20 years of senior-level manufacturing management. Most recently, he was regional VP for UFP Technologies, a developer of medical devices and components. Prior, he was an account manager and plant manager at Cadillac Products Automotive Company. He holds a bachelor of business administration from the Detroit College of Business and an MBA from Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Alfred has an impressive background in manufacturing,” said Hart. “Coupled with his proven success in sales and customer service, he’ll make a valuable addition to the Flow-Rite team.” Flow-Rite designs and manufactures a wide range of fluid control devices for industrial, marine, and RV lead-acid batteries and parts for fishing boats. Its products are made in the USA in an ISO 9001-compliant facility.
ALL names Terry Hoops Minnesota Territory Sales Rep for Dawes
Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental, a member of the ALL Family of Companies, has named Terry Hoops its territory sales representative for Minnesota. Hoops oversees Dawes’ bare and operated rentals as well as all equipment sales covering the entire state. Hoops is a three-decade veteran of equipment sales, the bulk of his career spent in Minnesota, where he has developed deep relationships within key markets that rely on heavy lift equipment. For the previous 13 years, he sold boom trucks and was key in updates made to the popular Manitex 30112S model to make it more suitable for use in the roofing market. Hoops’ suggestions included the addition of a tilting cab with a spacer in the turret to raise the cab and boom, where a roofers’ package could be stored below. The result was greater visibility for the operator and a machine well-suited to roofing work. “I pride myself on understanding what customers are trying to accomplish and helping them find the right equipment solutions to make it happen,” said Hoops. Hoops brings this can-do attitude to Dawes’ Minnesota operations. Dawes, of course, is a storied name in the Midwest crane industry, based in Wisconsin but servicing a region extending into Minnesota as well as Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Hoops is invigorated by the different types of construction thriving throughout Minnesota, from the energy sector including wind and traditional power plants to infrastructure work across the major cities to the demand for mixed-use high rises with retail and office space on the lower floors and residential spaces above. “Customers who’ve worked with me in the past know me as the boom truck guy, but I’ve always had to defer their larger equipment needs to others. No more,” said Hoops. “I’m excited that now I can represent Dawes and be customers’ one-stop-shop for lift equipment.”
Quantron AG awarded a high ESG rating along and ranked “very sustainable”
Sustainability report: Quantron AG has an excellent ESG rating and is a very sustainable business Strong environmental management, high sustainability impact, and top marks earned in other criteria The renowned Asset Impact analysis institute has awarded Quantron AG the rating “very sustainable”. For this, the company was subjected to a comprehensive auditing process. Quantron AG was able to convince the judges in all categories including evaluation points such as Sustainability Impact, Transformation Capability, and Sustainable Developments Goals. In the heavyweight category “Sustainability ESG: Ecological, Social, Governance” QUANTRON’s strong environmental management, tasked with the aim of reducing emissions and material consumption, was considered to be particularly positive. The official conclusion of the evaluation is: “Quantron makes an important contribution to reaching the climate targets set by the European Green Deal and the Paris agreements. The company’s core business is focused on retrofitting and upgrading towards a green mobility transition. Moreover, the company is ambitious in minimizing environmental and social risks. In terms of ESG criteria, the company is partly solid and partly well-positioned.“
Riekes achieves distinction for Twelfth Year 2022 MHEDA Most Valued Partner Award
For the twelfth consecutive year, since the award’s inception, Riekes Equipment has earned the Most Valuable Partner MVP Award from the industry’s trade association, Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA). Award recipients must satisfy a rigorous set of criteria with less than 10% of the association’s membership earning the award. As a 2022 MVP, Riekes Equipment has successfully demonstrated a commitment to business excellence, professionalism, and good stewardship. “Receiving this prestigious award 12 years in a row validates our commitment to our partners, customers, and employees,” said Pete Womack, Vice President of Sales and MHEDA Board Member. “We are inspired to continue growing solid relationships with our partners, providing exceptional service to our customers, and developing growth opportunities for our employees.” To qualify for the annual MVP Award companies are required to provide evidence of their commitment to their partners in business including their customers, employees, and suppliers. They must satisfy criteria in the following important areas: Industry Advocacy Customer Service Safety Practices Business Networking Continuing Education Business Best Practices “Achieving the MVP Award demonstrates a company-wide effort to maintain the highest business standards, customer service, employee development, and commitment to the betterment of the material handling industry. MHEDA is very proud of our award-winning members.” Ted Springer, president of Springer Equipment Co., Inc. and 2021 MHEDA Chairman.
LiftOne acquires Atlanta operations from Briggs Equipment
The acquisition expands LiftOne representation of the Hyster® and Yale® brands to the major metropolitan market LiftOne, a CTE company with headquarters in Charlotte, NC has announced it has been appointed as the new Hyster® and Yale® dealer in Atlanta, Georgia, following its acquisition of Briggs Equipment’s operations in that location on December 31, 2021. LiftOne is one of the largest material handling dealers in the U.S., with six locations in Georgia and 19 locations throughout its five-state service area. “What sets our dealership apart is our unwavering commitment to be a trusted partner to our customers, our team members, and the communities we serve,” said Mark Drummond, president of LiftOne. “Our award-winning service team of over 450 highly-trained technicians are at the ready with industry-leading technology to service all brands of material handling equipment for our customers. LiftOne will continue to deliver consultative equipment solutions to help customers increase efficiency and productivity in their operations. We look forward to being a trusted partner to our new Atlanta customers and the communities in which they live and work. In the near term, our primary focus following the acquisition will be to make the transition seamless for all of our customers.” “The Atlanta market is critically important to both Hyster and Yale,” said Hyster-Yale Group President, Americas, Chuck Pascarelli. “We are delighted to have a dealer with LiftOne’s proven record of success and commitment to excellence expand into the Atlanta market. We feel it further reinforces our position as an industry leader in independent distribution.”
LiuGong North America reveals organizational enhancements
LiuGong North America heads into 2022 with an enhanced top-level organizational structure as the company continues its efforts to grow both its dealer network and customer base. “These organizational enhancements were made to ensure our LiuGong North America team is best positioned to support our dealers and customers going into 2022,” said Andrew Ryan, President, LiuGong North America. “These individuals have earned their new positions and are tasked with helping us continue to grow in various markets after a great 2021.” NEW VICE PRESIDENTS Chris Saucedo has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Strategy & Customer Solutions. Saucedo will lead LiuGong North America’s go-to-market strategy and will focus on products, promotions, and product support in the rental, quarry and aggregates, forestry, industrial, and agricultural segments. Michel Marchand will assume the role of Vice President of Sales for the United States and Canada. Marchand will be responsible for all construction equipment and associated work tool and parts sales, while also providing leadership for LiuGong North America’s new dealer recruitment efforts. Additionally, LiuGong North America welcomes Jin Gang as the new Vice President of Finance and Supply Chain. Gang will lead LiuGong’s finance, accounting, parts operations, sales and operational planning, and human resources teams with a focus on continuous process improvement and process automation. NEW DIRECTORS Jared Ward has been promoted to the newly created position of Director for Material Handling Sales. Ward will be responsible for all material handling equipment and associated parts sales in all LiuGong North America’s markets, including Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. Steve Smith will continue in his role as Director of Sales for Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America and will be responsible for all construction equipment and associated work tool and parts sales in these markets. Gang, Saucedo, Marchand, Ward, and Smith will report directly to Ryan effective January 1, 2022. LiuGong North America has also created two new director roles as part of Saucedo’s team. Sam Ternes has been named Director, CORE Team. CORE is an acronym that stands for Customer Operational Readiness and Enrichment. Ternes will lead a field-based team focused on growing the LiuGong North America dealer network and will be responsible for developing and executing programs and initiatives to aid those dealers and enhance the customer experience. Jim Westlake has been named Director of Technical Solutions. Westlake will collaborate with LiuGong.’s global engineering teams and work to transform the technical support process to assist dealers, solve technical issues, and provide product improvements.
Flight Systems Industrial Products, Addison, IL Sales Location to manage WI territory
FSIP, a provider in manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, and electrical system design for the electric vehicle industry, has appointed their Addison, IL location the new representatives to serve the state of Wisconsin. Michelle Butler leads a team of expert inside sales/support personnel to provide cost-efficient and reliable alternative solutions to new parts. “We’re excited to bring Michelle’s expansive knowledge to the WI region, shorten customer lead times, and improve customer service with our mid-west presence,” stated Ben Richwine, Director of Sales.
Cimcorp expands its North American Sales Executive team
With 20 years of combined experience in the material handling industry, new hires Adam Gurga and Collin Russell will grow Cimcorp’s presence in the U.S. grocery retail market Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire handling solutions, announces the addition of Adam Gurga, Sales Manager, and Collin Russell, Director of Business Development, to its North American sales team. With extensive backgrounds in the supply chain, material handling, and automation, the two seasoned sales executives will foster new and existing client relationships to support Cimcorp’s growth strategy in the U.S. grocery distribution market. “The need for automation is on the rise in the U.S. fresh food and grocery sector, as businesses face increasingly high customer expectations and unprecedented supply chain disruptions. At Cimcorp, we’re focused on growing our North American presence to satisfy this demand,” explained Derek Rickard, Director of Sales, Cimcorp Automation Ltd. “I am very excited to welcome Adam and Collin to the team, and am confident they will be tremendous assets in helping our clients solve their biggest fresh food distribution challenges.” A motivated and results-driven sales professional, Adam Gurga boasts 14 years of experience in the supply chain, warehousing, and food & beverage industries. He is skilled in building long-term customer relationships, with a passion for delivering solutions that meet each client’s unique needs and objectives. Gurga’s extensive knowledge of reusable packaging methods will also prove invaluable in the grocery and fresh food space. “I’m very proud to be joining Cimcorp in its efforts to provide innovative intralogistics solutions to grocery retailers across North America,” commented Gurga. “Through automation, grocers and fresh food providers can realize incredible gains in their warehousing and distribution operations, and I am excited to introduce many new customers to the full range of solutions Cimcorp has to offer.” Collin Russell also joins Cimcorp’s roster of sales professionals, bringing a strong focus on developing strategic partnerships with high-level decision-makers and driving regional growth. His ample knowledge of the material handling sector includes micro-fulfillment—a growth strategy in the grocery retail market to reduce order fulfillment costs while boosting speed and consumer satisfaction. “Global trends all point to the rise of micro-fulfillment, as online orders and at-home deliveries for groceries and fresh food show no sign of slowing down,” noted Russell. “I am excited to lend my experience in micro-fulfillment strategies to Cimcorp, helping to bring automated solutions while fostering partnerships to further sustainable packaging to some of the biggest players in the grocery retail space.” Gurga and Russell will both report to the Director of Sales, Derek Rickard. To contact Cimcorp’s North America sales office, email: sales_na@cimcorp.com.
Women In Trucking Association announces its January 2022 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Aldijana Miljkovic as its January 2022 Member of the Month. She is the owner of Lina Express, Inc., a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) certified trucking company located in the Chicago area. Aldijana started her career working as a receptionist with no experience or knowledge in the trucking industry. Moving quickly up the corporate ladder, she became a recruiter, dispatcher, accounting manager, then an operations manager. Through this process, she realized her love for the industry and discovered her passion. To further explore this passion, Aldijana bought her first truck as a side job and became an owner-operator. She hired her first team driver as she continued working as an operations manager. After five years, her side business grew to eight trucks and a team of drivers. “My boss wasn’t happy with my side growth and constantly reminded me, ‘it’s a man’s world.’ At the same time, I was managing his 75 trucks and my eight trucks with no problem,” she said. After eight years working for the same company, Aldijana felt underappreciated and put down. She parted with the company and obtained her own authority. “I’m proud I got my WOSB certificate and am now running my own company, under my own authority,” she said. “We specialize in power only LTL 48 states.” Aldijana has now been in the trucking industry for nearly a decade. Her goal is to empower other women and make sure they know that they can do anything, regardless of what others say.
KION’s head of communications Michael Hauger is leaving the MDAX-listed group
The long-serving global head of corporate communications at KION GROUP AG, Michael Hauger (53), will be leaving the intralogistics solutions provider on March 31, 2022. He joined what is now the MDAX-listed group in 2007, shortly after the KION Group was spun off from Linde AG and sold to private equity, and built up the communications function. Over the past 15 years, during which he worked closely with outgoing CEO Gordon Riske, he has led the multi-brand group’s internal, external, and digital communications, public affairs, and brand management, and has established integrated communications across the Group. Until the end of March, Hauger will provide communications support to the new CEO Rob Smith in his initial phase. “On behalf of the entire company, I would like to sincerely thank Michael Hauger for his exceptionally strong and loyal commitment to the KION Group. He has played a major role in shaping the Group’s excellent global reputation among its stakeholders, the perception of its brands, and our corporate culture worldwide,” said Gordon Riske, Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG. “With his broad, international communications experience, his deep understanding of the business, and his analytical, calm manner, he has been an important advisor to me personally, to the entire Executive Board, and to many executives worldwide at all stages of the development of our Group.” During his time with the company, Hauger managed the communication of the group during the challenging global financial crisis of 2008/09 as well as the communication of the partnership with the Chinese anchor investor Weichai Power, the successful IPO in 2013, and numerous global acquisitions. He accompanied the transformation from a European forklift manufacturer to a global provider of automated supply chain solutions and was the driver of internal change communications and of the development of shared KION values as the basis of a worldwide corporate culture. “After three decades in corporate communications and more recently 15 extraordinarily exciting, intensive, and fulfilling years at the helm of KION’s communications function, the CEO change is the right time for me to reorientate in my professional career,” said Michael Hauger. The KION Group will inform about a successor later.