Cognex appoints new president
Cognex Corp., Natick, Mass., a supplier of machine vision systems, announces the promotion of Robert Willett to president and Chief Operating Officer. He will assume these responsibilities in addition to his current role as president of the Modular Vision Systems Division (MVSD), the company's largest operating unit. As president of Cognex, Willett will oversee both the MVSD and the Surface Inspection Systems Division (SISD).
Ringfeder changes name
Effective immediately, Ringfeder Power Transmission USA Corp., Westwood, N.J., is the new name of what was Ringfeder Corp. The company changed its name to create a unified global image. Three brands will fall under Ringfeder Power Transmission: RINGFEDER, ECOLOC, and GERWAH. RINGFEDER offers locking devices, Shrink Discs, Smart-Lock shaft connection systems, friction springs, shock absorbing units, and fluid elastomeric dampers, as well as torsionally flexible couplings. ECOLOC offers economical locking devices and metal bellows couplings, and GERWAH manufactures magnetic, metal bellows, servo-insert, safety, and torsionally rigid disc couplings. For more information, visit www.ringfeder.com.
B&R launches packaging expert group
B&R Industrial Automation, Roswell, Ga., has formed a new team of packaging experts to work closely with packaging engineers. John Kowal, Tom Jensen, Joe Krogman, and Marcel Voigt joined B&R in January as part of the strategic market development group. This team of automation experts will expand B&R's activities in North America and strengthen the company's position within the packaging industry. Kowal and Jensen have contributed to the establishment of industry standards, the expansion of mechatronics education, and the adoption of advanced control technologies and competitive strategies for packaging system providers and users. They will lead B&R's packaging group as market development managers.
Tom Jensen brings more than 20 years of experience in machine development, motion control, and robotics, and is a longtime member of the OMAC Packaging Workgroup, PMMI Education Committee, and Institute of Packaging Professionals. John Kowal helped form the OMAC Packaging Workgroup, is an active member of the PMMI Trade Show Strategy Committee, IoPP, ISA, and BMA, and hosts a Packaging Machinery LinkedIn Group. Joe Krogman and Marcel Voigt are the technology experts within the packaging group. For more information, visit www.br-automation.com.
SKF USA Inc. names new president
AB SKF has appointed Poul Jeppesen as president and CEO of SKF USA Inc., Lansdale, Pa. As president and CEO, Jeppesen will be responsible for the common corporate operations in the U.S. During his 28-year career with SKF, he has held several positions in areas of sales, marketing, product management, and manufacturing. Most recently, Jeppesen served as president/director of SKF Actuation System, a global business unit with seven manufacturing operations. SKF USA Inc. manufactures bearing, sealing, lubrication, mechatronic, and linear motion technologies. For more information, visit www.skfusa.com.