Bekaert reinforces its worldwide team to further grow its position as total solution provider for rotatable PVD sputter equipment

In order to respond to the requirements of this booming market and grow its position as total solutions provider, Bekaert has decided to strengthen its R&D, Process & Application, Customer Service and Marketing teams. These appointments will enable the company to provide its customers with the best available service in the market.

Nuno Carvalho recently joined the R&D department as Technology Manager Target Development, along with Tom Cottens and Kristof De Jaeger, two Key Learning Project Engineers. The newly-appointed team members will focus their attention on existing technologies in order to further develop and improve the existing range of products. In addition to consolidating the top market position of its existing products, the expansion of the R&D team will allow Bekaert to further investigate new technologies, develop new product lines as well as pro-actively look for further business opportunities and challenges to meet the demands of its customers.

Craig Bae will assume the position of Application Engineer Sputter Products. He will mainly be responsible for the Process and Application field, where he will work in close contact with customers to find new customized solutions. Mr. Bae’s appointment will reinforce the worldwide team and enable to closely monitor new market trends and application possibilities. With the cooperation between the R&D and Process and Application departments, Bekaert and its customers will be able to evolve at the same pace as the industry.



Bekaert also decided to expand its worldwide Project and Service team. Niels Callens has joined the company as Mechanical Service/Installation technician and Davy Fieuw as Electrical Service/Installation Technician. In North America, Jay Gilles has been newly appointed to the position of Customer Service Engineer. With the new functions in the service team, Bekaert is confident to provide faster and more efficient customer and after-sales service as well as reliable and efficient project management.

To complete the expansion strategy, Katrien De Clerck joins as Marketing Assistant. In her new position, she will be responsible for streamlining customer care and press relations in an effort to further improve Bekaert’s overall communication efforts.



The recent changes have boosted Rémy Rochard’s confidence in Bekaert’s strategy for 2008. The company’s General Manager Sputter Products explains: “The Bekaert team is evolving with the market requirements. Growing market needs require stronger teams to comply with the developing trend. For 2008, the objective was to be as pro-active as possible by screening and generating new business opportunities in the market. These new appointments will allow us to achieve our goals. We are very excited about the new hires and the experience they will bring to our existing knowledge base and are 100% convinced they will enable Bekaert to grow its global market position as leading total solutions provider for the heart of the rotatable PVD sputter equipment.”



About Bekaert



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 a European based company, headquartered in Belgium, employing 19 300 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.