From the Sector

Effective March 1st, Ib Jensen takes over from Jan Secher as Chief Executive Officer of Perstorp Group, a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Malmö, Sweden and since 2022 part of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG).

Ib Jensen is a highly respected senior industry executive with a long career as CFO and extensive experience from M&A and integration of acquired companies, something that will be required in the next phase for Perstorp.

After more than 9 successful years as the CEO of Perstorp Group, Jan Secher has decided to step down. This decision is based on a personal direction set more than a year ago, prior to the acquisition by PCG, allowing for a full search process to be conducted for his replacement. Ib Jensen has been CFO of Perstorp for the past year and was considered the most qualified candidate based on his knowledge of the company, long term experience of the specialty chemicals industry and high level of appreciation in both Perstorp as well as in PCG. Previous experience include CFO and executive roles within Finance and IT at companies such as Arxada, Lonza, Syngenta, Danisco and LEGO.

Jan Secher remains in the CEO role until March 1st and will thereafter serve as an advisor to the new CEO and the Chairman, focusing on strategy and transferring external relationships. Monica Jönsson, currently deputy CFO, will take on the role as CFO when Ib Jensen assumes the position as CEO. PCG is fully committed to the Executive Leadership Team of Perstorp and expects the team to continue the successful integration work as well as dealing with the volatile global macro situation.

Yalin Xu has been appointed Managing Director and President of DyStar Group by the Board of Directors. He will be directly responsible for the management and operations of DyStar Group. Mr Xu first joined DyStar in 2010 and has since been the Executive Board Director.
 
Eric Hopmann has been redesignated as CCO (Chief Commercial Officer), with a focus on Sales and Marketing of DyStar Group. He will continue to report to Yalin Xu. Mr Hopmann was with DyStar when the company started in 1995 and has been leading various leadership positions at DyStar Group, including the most recent CEO role, to which he was appointed in 2014.
 
DyStar’s leadership change is in response to the rapid global market changes, and to enable the group to accelerate growth and drive productivity. The group wants to streamline their operations and better utilise resources efficiently across the network.

Der Bundesverband Medizintechnologie (BVMed) trauert um seinen langjährigen Geschäftsführer und Vorstandsmitglied Joachim M. Schmitt. Er verstarb am Neujahrstag 2023 im Alter von 71 Jahren.

Schmitt kam 1985 zum BVMed und war von 1990 bis 2019 Geschäftsführer des deutschen Medizintechnik-Verbandes. Unter Führung von Schmitt wurde der Vertretungsbereich des Verbandes kontinuierlich ausgebaut, eine proaktive politische Arbeit etabliert und mit dem Umzug nach Berlin 2001 konsequent intensiviert. Weitere Meilensteine waren die Erarbeitung des Kodex Medizinprodukte in den 90er Jahren und der Aufbau der BVMed-Eventtochter MedInform (heute BVMed-Akademie) zu einem stetig wachsenden Informations- und Seminar-Service.

„Wir verlieren mit Joachim M. Schmitt eine prägende Gestalt des Verbandes und das jahrzehntelange Gesicht der deutschen MedTech-Branche. Wir verneigen uns vor einer großen Persönlichkeit und seiner unternehmerischen Leistung. Sein Wirken und sein menschliches Vorbild werden unvergessen bleiben“, so der BVMed-Vorstandsvorsitzende Dr. Meinrad Lugan sowie BVMed-Geschäftsführer und Schmitt-Nachfolger Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll.

• Award for near-net-shape 3D meshes for use in fibre-reinforced plastics

As part of the JEC FORUM DACH 2022, the AVK Innovation Awards were presented in Augsburg on November 29th. The innovation price in the category "Research/Science" (first place) was awarded to the team of scientists Dipl.-Ing. Dominik Nuss, Dr.-Ing. Cornelia Sennewald and Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Chokri Cherif.

With the development of the pull-off-free Jacquard weaving technology including the technological know-how in the field of highly complex 2D and 3D fabric geometries, which has been established at the ITM of the TU Dresden for many years, Dominik Nuss has succeeded in including different yarn lengths locally into the fabric structure solely through targeted variation of the fabric weave. There-fore, it is now possible to produce completely new types of fabrics without additional draping, especially spherically curved fabrics, but also large-format spiral or even curved fabrics. The fact that the required near-net-shape geometry of the component to be reinforced can be reproduced with significantly reduced preforming steps is to be emphasized.

Continuous simulation aided engineering from CAD design to integrally woven 2D and 3D preforms by means of highly complex weave development for spatial constructions is a unique at the ITM, which was indispensable for the development of these promising woven high-tech structures. This technology is completely new and has never been carried out in this way before. The fabric structures are characterised by a high innovation level due to their geometric diversity and purposes. It can be used in numerous applications and further more contributes to the development of completely new fields of application. The technology can be implemented on all Jacquard weaving machines with only an additional device and the preform geometry is only determined by the control of the Jacquard machine. The preform geometry can be used in the full working width of the weaving machine.

Professor Chokri Cherif, Institute Director of the ITM, and his team are very pleased about these continuous research success in the constantly growing research field of 3D weaving technology, which are achieved at the ITM in close cooperation with industry and users. "This award is a special honour for our institute and confirms that the many years of our excellent research in the field of near-net-shape 3D weaving for the fibre-reinforced plastics sector plays a significant role and that we are making a significant contribution to the sustainable and resource-efficient production of lightweight structures with our development".

Baldwin Technology Co. Inc. has appointed Adina Starke, a seasoned print and packaging professional with wide-ranging expertise, as Regional Sales Leader for the West Coast.

At Baldwin Technology Company Inc., a leading global manufacturer and supplier of innovative process-automation equipment, parts, service and consumables for the printing, packaging, textile, plastic film extrusion and corrugated industries, Starke will be responsible for all product sales to print and packaging professionals in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Alaska and western Canada.

Starke has spent the past 15 years in various technical and sales roles in the print and packaging industry. Most recently, she spent four years with All Printing Resources (formerly JVI Solutions), as a Territory Manager and a Technical Sales and Business Development Representative. Prior to that, she spent several years with Lohmann Specialty Coating and Sun Chemical.

Starke graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communications.

The German Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK) re-elected its previous Board on 29 November 2022 in Augsburg during the regular Board elections at the JEC Forum DACH.

At the constituent board meeting on 6 December 2022, the board positions were also confirmed. Dr. Michael Effing, Managing Director of AMAC GmbH, remains Chairman of the Board, and Dirk Punke, Managing Director of BÜFA Thermoplastics Composites GmbH, is Deputy Chairman. Treasurer is Prof. Jens Ridzewski, IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH, the other board members: Gerhard Lettl, Managing Director C.F. Maier Europlast GmbH & Co. KG and Michael Polotzki, Managing Director Menzolit S.r.L. The board is officially in office for three years from 1.1.2023.

"It's nice to see the Board's work so well evaluated that there is no doubt that this will continue for the next legislative period. We are very much looking forward to that," explains Managing Director Dr Elmar Witten, the members' vote. The general meeting took place during the JEC Forum DACH.

Nils Andersen will step down as Chair and member of the Supervisory Board of AkzoNobel to accept a new board position outside of the company.

Commenting on the announcement, Byron Grote, Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board, said: “We congratulate Nils Andersen on his new opportunity and at the same time we deeply regret to see him go. Nils stepped into the role of Chair of the Supervisory Board during a very turbulent time. His extensive international experience in different industries and his broad business insight have helped guide AkzoNobel’s transformation into a frontrunner in the paints and coatings industry. The company’s relationship with its shareholders and other stakeholders significantly improved under his leadership.”

Nils Andersen will step down at the Annual General meeting to be held in April 2023. The Supervisory Board will announce a successor, to be nominated for appointment at the next AGM, in due course.

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has named MaryJo Lilly as its new Market Intelligence Leader. Lilly brings more than 20 years of nonwovens & engineered materials expertise with a background in the disposable, medical and specialty materials industries.

Before starting a consulting firm two years ago, Lilly was Regional Commercial Director of North America for Tredegar Film Products and before that, spent more than a decade as Vice President of Sales at Berry Global in the Health, Hygiene, and Specialties Division growing the personal care and medical markets.

Additionally, Lilly’s leadership experience includes Global Business Director at Clopay Plastic Products and Director of Sales and Marketing for Absorbent Materials at Rayonier Performance Fibers. Lilly holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

With her industry knowledge and extensive network, Lilly will develop, issue and present reports, presentations and data to support INDA, member decision-making and the industry. She will, through collaboration with market participants and subject matter experts, develop and maintain relevant industry statistics, reports and surveys on the North American and worldwide markets by major segments and processing technologies.

Max Mutzke gehört zu den bekanntesten Sängern in Deutschland. Seine Songs haben viel zu sagen und drücken starke Gefühle aus. Seine Stimme ist ein Allroundtalent, dessen Spektrum von Pop, Rock über Soul bis zum Jazz reicht. Und er ist Fan von Kopfbedeckungen. Auf den Covern seiner acht Studioalben, bei seinen Konzerten und auch privat sind Hut oder Mütze sein Markenzeichen. Für diese Leidenschaft wurde Max Mutzke vom Hutverband GDH e.V. zum „Hutträger des Jahres 2022“ ausgezeichnet. Im Rahmen des Internationalen Tag des Hutes am 25. November erhielt der 41-jährige Musiker einen individuell designten, goldenen Hut-Award. Er ist der 10. Hutträger des Jahres und Nachfolger von prominenten Hutträgern wie den Musikerkollegen Johannes Oerding und Gregor Meyle.

Am liebsten trägt Max Mutzke Herrenhüte in den Formen Player, Fedora oder Traveller in vielen Farben, stylish vorne hoch getragen sowie immer wieder Herrenmützen.

Gewählt wurde Max Mutzke von den Mitgliedern, alles inhabergeführte Hutfachgeschäfte mit langer Tradition – das älteste Geschäft wurde vor 488 Jahren gegründet. Die Auszeichnung wird seit 2013 im Rahmen des `Internationalen Tag des Hutes´ (25. November) verliehen mit Unterstützung von den Hutpartnern Göttmann, Faustmann, Arlt/McBurn, Gebeana, Fiebig, den Marken Kangol und Bailey sowie Bullani.

Swenja Speidel hat zum 01.06.2022 einen Sitz in der Geschäftsleitung der Speidel GmbH übernommen. Sie verantwortet die Bereiche Marketing, Produkt Management, Design und eCommerce. Mit ihr übernimmt die dritte Generation der Gründerfamilie Verantwortung für das Unternehmen.

Alexander Beck, seit 15 Jahren Teil des Speidel Teams, übernimmt in der neuen Geschäftsführung die Bereiche Produktion, technische Produktentwicklung und Beschaffung. Günter Speidel, der das Unternehmen über Jahrzehnte erfolgreich geführt hat, wird weiterhin als Geschäftsführer den Vertrieb sowie die Bereiche IT und Finanzen verantworten.

Swenja Speidel kennt das Unternehmen seit sie als Schülerin während der Ferien dort gearbeitet hat. 2011 ist sie fest eingestiegen, zunächst als Teil des Vertriebsteams. Swenja Speidel: „Der Einstieg über den Vertrieb war ideal, um unser Unternehmen, unsere Handelspartner und Kund:innen intensiv kennen zu lernen. In dieser Phase habe ich meine Leidenschaft für das Marketing entdeckt. Ich bin sehr dankbar dafür, wie schnell ich die Gelegenheit bekommen habe, in diesem Bereich Verantwortung zu übernehmen und als Marken- und Produktmanagerin auszubauen. Die Marke und das Unternehmen weiterzuentwickeln sehe ich auch in der neuen Position als meine zentrale Aufgabe.“