Product category:
People in Manufacturing
News Release from: Keronite
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 February 2007
NF surface treatment firm expands in
automotive
Developer of a patented plasma based surface treatment technology for magnesium and aluminium has appointed a vice president, Automotive Sales, to expand in that area.
Keronite International is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Higgs as vice president, Automotive Sales, reinforcing the company's commercial team With global responsibility for Keronite's expanding automotive business, Paul will work with the regional managers in Europe, North America and Asia to develop aggressive sales strategies for the key markets in these growth areas
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Jul 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Paul will also be involved in the development of an extensive knowledge management system, designed to facilitate the sharing of information between Keronite operating partners and sales representatives worldwide.
Keronite International was established in Cambridge, UK, in 2000 to provide technology services to industry, enabling manufacturers to reduce costs and improve performance through the wider use of aluminium and magnesium.
The patented Keronite surface treatment technology known as Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) is used to convert the surface of light metals into an extremely hard, crystalline ceramic oxide with outstanding properties in terms of resistance to corrosion and wear.
Further reading
Process hardens and protects magnesium, aluminium
Surface treatment process is building quite a reputation as the preferred treatment for magnesium and aluminium alloys, providing the hardest and most corrosion resistant surfaces.
Surface treatment toughens non-ferrous metals
Patented surface treatment technology allows automotive companies to use lighter metals to reduce vehicle weight, thereby saving fuel and decreasing emissions.
Electrolytic surface preparation is ISO approved
Keronite International has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for the application of advanced surface treatments using the Keronite Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation process.
A chrome-free immersion process, Keronite is used to treat the inner as well as the outer surfaces of the most complex shapes and the technology is successfully being used across a whole range of industries from automotive, aerospace and oil and gas to electronics, architecture and a variety of engineering applications.
Keronite has its own manufacturing facilities for the production of processing plant and electrolyte solutions, and works through a network of experienced operating partners to deliver surface treatment solutions across Europe, Asia and North America.
Higgs started his career in tool-making and production engineering, where he worked on a wide variety of automotive manufacturing applications including pressings, co-extrusions and injection mouldings.
He then progressed in his profession to CAD designer and project management through to business development an engineering consultancy.
Previously head of Business Development at Prodrive Automotive Technology Europe, Paul's career has spanned some 20+ years within the automotive industry.
In his new role with Keronite, he will be able to draw upon a wealth of experience in dealing with automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers.
The former vice-president, Automotive at Keronite, Dr Stephen Hutchins, has taken up a new role as chief technology officer at the Cambridge headquarters, and now has a seat on the company's board of directors.
Keronite CEO, Lars Olrik, believes that Higgs is joining the company at a very exciting time.
"Keronite has a number of new technologies in the pipeline, some of which are designed specifically for use in the high volume automotive industry.
He will be able to build on the groundwork we have done in recent years and the company is really starting to see a snowball effect as confidence is growing in our ability to deliver consistently high quality coatings in production volumes." Keronite plans to launch two new technologies in the coming months: a revolutionary black coating for aluminium and, together with German partner, Gramm Oberflaechentechnik, an automated system for the selective Keronite coating of high volume components using the Gramm Selective Technology (GST) system.
Higgs is looking forward to the challenges ahead, he said: "I am very much looking forward to introducing these innovative technologies to my contacts in the automotive industry.
Keronite has so much to offer this sector, and with the ever-increasing pressure on car manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions, something tells me I will be in the right place at the right time, offering a true enabling technology for light alloys.".
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