STERLING, VA. — Gammaflux L.P. has opened a European headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, and hired several former employees from Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.'s operation there, which Husky has shut down.
Gammaflux manufactures temperature controllers for hot runners.
Husky closed the Wiesbaden mold and hot-runner plant in 1996 and relocated the work to Dudelange, Luxembourg.
Initially, Gammaflux-Europe GmbH had four employees. Three of them had worked at Husky. Gammaflux-Europe's general manager is Rene Bertschi, who was business manager of hot-runner systems in Europe. Another former Husky Wiesbaden employee, Benno Kippes, is sales and marketing manager of Gammaflux-Europe. Kippes will concentrate on sales to German-speaking countries of Europe. Dorette Metzmacher, who serves as office manager, worked a short time at Husky.
Dieter Bentsch is technical and service manager. He did work for Gammaflux in Europe through his own firm, Bentsch Automation.
Gammaflux President David Huntting said the German operation will stock inventory and, within the next six months, do limited assembly of controllers.
``As the business grows, the possibilities of opening branch offices in France, Italy and England are strong,'' Huntting said.