Complex Industrial Machinery Manufacturing Issues Expert Witness

Expert Witness No.1214

Executive Summary

Engineering and management expertise in the fields of mass production machinery, vehicle rims & wheels, and metal products manufacturing, based on a mechanical engineering degree and over 25 years’ ownership, top management, international sales, design engineering, field startup, troubleshooting & installation, and project management positions with automotive component and heavy industrial machinery manufacturing companies in USA and Europe.

Experience

1998-Present - President

Litigation Consulting and Expert Witness Service: In matters involving industrial mass production machinery, manufacture of metal products.  Engineering and Management Consulting: Client engagements include new business startups, international liaisons, engineering analysis, a disaster turnaround, boards of directors, productivity improvements, and plant startups.

1977-1998 - Founder, Director, Officer

Parent company of an international group of machine tool, tool & die, and production equipment companies including Hess Engineering, Inc., Hess Engineering AG; Wheel Rim Machinery Sales, Inc.; Capitol Technologies, Inc., X-Cel Steel Fabricating, Inc.

Company grew from its two founders to 500 employees in six locations in USA and Europe.  Maximum annual sales U.S.$75 million.  Company’s major customers are automotive OEM and Tier One manufacturers.  Company’s products include proprietary metalworking machinery, such as rim and wheel production lines, presses, resistance and arc welders, roll formers, shrinkers, expanders, straighteners, metal spinning machines, cold rolling mills, mill instrumentation, automations, robotics, special machines, assembly machines, food processing machines, tools & dies, and integrated production lines combining many different manufacturing technologies.

1977 – 1998 President, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing

Company designs and manufactures proprietary metalworking machinery, tooling, and processes for automotive OEMs, automotive suppliers, and producers of metals and metal products.  Company is well known for its equipment for producing vehicle wheels from steel and aluminum.  Clients have included Ford, General Motors, Hayes-Lemmerz, Michelin, The Budd Co., Heyco Metals, J&L Steel, Alcoa, Mannesmann, GKN, Rockwell International, Meritor, Chuo Seiki, Kanai Sharin, and many other automotive OEM’s and suppliers around the world.

Applications Engineer,Manufacturing Technology, Inc., Indiana, startup machine tool builder, 1976-1977.
Sr. Design Engineer, Field Installation Engineer. Grotnes Machine Works, Illinois, div. Inland Steel, machine tool builder, 1973-1976.
R&D, Project Manager.  Firestone Steel Products Co., Ohio, div. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., truck wheel &metal container manufacturer, 1969-1970, 1971-1973.
VP, General Manager. West view Appliance Center, Ohio, home appliance sales & service, 1970-1971.

Engineering Skills

Significant engineering experience in the design, manufacture, installation, maintenance and operation of industrial production machinery and automations, in the design and manufacture of steel and aluminum vehicle rims and wheels, and in the manufacture of metal products.

Languages

English, first language, excellent spoken, written and presentation skills.

French, intermediate spoken and written skills.

German, basic spoken and written skills.

Computer Skills

Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ACT! 2000

Education

Notre Dame University, Creative Management.

Ohio Northern University, BS Mechanical Engineering.

Publications

Available upon request