Bekaert grows sales & service teams in sputter products on global basis

Walter Helskens will assume the position of Market Manager sputter products for Europe. In his previous employment at Sioen Industries NV as Sales Manager, Mr. Helskens successfully built a proactive external sales force with an emphasis on customer care and follow-up. His dynamic organizational abilities, combined with excellent communication skills, will enable Bekaert to further expand its customer and industry relations in the European market.

Mark Wozniak will join Bekaert as Service Technician for the US market and contributes strong technical expertise as a mechanical engineer. Mr. Wozniak previously held the position of Gas Engineer for Peoples Gas in Chicago, where he was responsible for technical customer services as well as training and managing project teams. His combination of technical and people skills will ensure a high level of after-sales support for Bekaert customers in the United States.

Betty Li has been appointed as Internal Sales Expert and will focus on customer servicing and relationship-building in the high-growth Asian market. Ms. Li will continue to grow Bekaert´s position in sputter products by responding to customer needs and expectations for fast and efficient quality servicing.

Rémy Rochard, General Manager Sputter Products at Bekaert comments: "Bekaert is committed to ongoing investments throughout our global operations to achieve exceptional customer care. I welcome these new members to the Bekaert team - they contribute valuable experience and have the enthusiasm and expertise to better serve and communicate with our customer base on a worldwide scale."

About:
Bekaert (www.bekaert.com) seeks sustainable profitable growth based on its two core competences: advanced metal transformation and advanced materials and coatings.

Bekaert aims to consolidate its position as both market and technological leader around the world. With its broad range of high technological products, systems and services, Bekaert offers high added value for its customers.
Bekaert (Euronext Brussels: BEKB) is an European based company, headquartered in Belgium, employing 18 500 people. Bekaert, present in 120 countries, generates annual sales of more than € 3 billion.

Bekaert works closely with its customers to enable them to upgrade from planar to rotatable technology and offers lower cost of ownership through longer production runs, faster coating deposition and a more complete use of coating material.

Bekaert has built its experience in the sputtering technology field through its own plastic foil coating for window film and industrial applications. Bekaert was the first to bring rotatable targets to market and has successfully partnered with customers to develop the most advanced and complete sputter equipment to effectively use these targets for coating lines worldwide.

Industrial customers who execute a coating process for applications such as architectural and automotive glass (including Low-E and solar control films, and anti-reflective coatings), display glass and photovoltaic glass, can significantly benefit from adopting Bekaert´s sputter solutions and technology. Customers can also rely on Bekaert´s world-class local customer support and leading research and development.