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[May 2003]
Ferro Announces Dinnerware Systems Business Unit
Ferro says that it has "secured its position at the head of the dining
table" by creating a new business unit specifically focussed on developing
surface decoration solutions for customers in the global dinnerware markets.Bob Martel, Vice President of the Color & Glass Performance Materials
Division of Ferro announced the formation of the new unit - the Dinnerware
Systems Business Unit (DS BU) - under the direction of Gerd Däumler as
Global Business Manager. This new business unit brings together a wealth of
experience and expertise, adds the company, formerly recognised under two
separate groups, Fine Ceramics and Decoration Systems. The merging of these
two operations is an example of the synergistic benefits now being derived
from the successful integration of dmc2 and Ferro resources.Supporting Gerd Däumler is a new global management team with world-wide
responsibility for business operations, innovation and strategic marketing
planning. Robert Latimer has been appointed as Regional Dinnerware Manager
(Europe & the Americas); Adolf Pfeiffer as Regional Dinnerware Manager
(Asia-Pacific); Dr Maurizio Ragnetti as Technical Manager; and David J
Harrison as Business Development Manager. Collectively, this management
team has almost 150 years of global experience in ceramic surface decoration
products and markets and is, says Ferro, perfectly equipped to maintain and
strengthen the company's position as market leader in this important sector
of the ceramic industry.The DS BU has an expanded product range that includes a comprehensive range
of frits, glazes, pigments, decoration colours, precious metals and
application media and covercoats. The products themselves will be supported
by the development of a network of local technical service staff, trained
and assisted by global application specialists from the Frankfurt and
Stoke-on-Trent Centres of Technical Excellence.Those same two centres, in conjunction with staff from other Ferro
locations, will formulate and deliver continuous product improvements to
meet Ferro's targets for sales derived from innovation. No matter what the
substrate - porcelain, stoneware, fine and bone china, earthenware or decal
paper - the DS BU intends to fulfil ongoing customer demands for
state-of-the-art surface decoration products. Even customers in the glass
industry will enjoy the benefits of improved precious metal preparations
offered by the DS BU, adds the company.
ENDS