Bekaert appoints Lance Sides as new Market Manager North America

Bekaert, the premier supplier of rotatable sputtering technologies delivering lower cost of ownership and higher coater throughput, today announced that Lance Sides has joined the company as the Market Manager for North American Operations. Sides’ hire reflects the increasing demand for Bekaert’s market-leading sputter products, including rotatable cylindrical magnetrons, sputter targets and end blocks
<P>The expansion of Bekaert’s North American sales and marketing efforts is closely aligned with the growth rate of the company’s current and future industrial customers who are installing and operating sputtering equipment. Sides will be responsible for the sales and marketing strategy and implementation for the US, Canada and Mexico</P>
<P>“Lance brings a wealth of experience and a deep background in the vacuum coating industry to our growing presence in the United States, Canada and Mexico,” said Koen Staelens, Regional Manager for Sputter Products, Europe &amp; America, Bekaert. “The addition of an executive of Lance’s stature and knowledge is yet another demonstration of Bekaert’s commitment to provide the highest level of service and support to our entire customer base around the world.” </P>
<P>Sides brings to Bekaert nearly 20 years experience in the vacuum coating and architectural glass manufacturing industries. He was a vacuum coating consultant for a variety of market leaders, including Asahi Glass, Cardinal CG, Cardinal IG, Ford Glass, Guardian Ind., Lin Yang Glass, Nanning Glass and Nippon Sheet Glass. Sides was also the North American Business Manager for Unaxis/Leybold Materials. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly 15 years in product sales and market development for a variety of capital equipment manufacturers. Sides received his bachelor degree from Prairie State College, and continued his education at the University of Wisconsin and George Washington University. Sides is a member of the National Glass Association, American Society of Physics and the Society of Vacuum Coaters. </P>
<P>The appointment of Sides will allow Plant Manager Rich Gilfillan to focus solely on running Bekaert’s growing operations at the company’s Spring Green, WI facility. Previously, Gilfillan had split duties as North American Market Manager and Plant Manager. </P>
<P>Sputtering is a vacuum coating process and one of the core methods for depositing thin films on glass. The Bekaert technology allows a switch from planar to rotatable targets and offers lower cost of ownership through longer production runs, faster coating deposition and a more complete use of coating material. Bekaert has built up its experience in this field through its own sputter activity on plastic foil for window film and for industrial applications. Bekaert was the first to bring rotatable targets to the market and has developed the necessary sputter equipment to effectively use these targets on glass coating lines all over the world. </P>
<P>Industrial customers who execute a coating process for applications such as architectural and automotive glass (such as Low-E and solar control films, and anti-reflective coatings), display glass and photovoltaic glass, can capitalize on Bekaert’s technology. Customers can also rely on Bekaert’s world-class customer support and leading research and development.</P>
<P>Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is a European based company, headquartered in Belgium with a presence in 120 countries. In 2004, Bekaert generated sales of € 3.1 billion, employing 18,400 people.</P></SPAN>