Milacron Inc. has made several senior-management announcements, in the wake of naming David Lawrence its new president and chief executive officer.
The Cincinnati-based company also is laying off 90 people from its plastics machinery operation in Batavia, Ohio, citing difficult economic conditions.
Lawrence took the top spot at the Cincinnati-based machinery maker on Dec. 1, replacing Ronald Brown, who retired. Lawrence had been president of the company's D-M-E global mold technologies business.
On Dec. 11, Milacron made the following personnel announcements:
* Ross Anderson, formerly Milacron's chief financial officer, is now president of machinery technologies North America. That is the company's largest operating segment, with annual sales of more than $350 million, and covers machinery build in the United States, plus India and China. Anderson replaces David Bertke, a 35-year veteran of Milacron who is retiring at the end of the year. The 51-year-old Anderson has worked at Milacron since 1989.
* The current treasurer, John Francy, is now vice president of finance and CFO. He will retain his role as treasurer, in addition to filling the CFO post vacated by Anderson. Francy, 44, joined Milacron in 1988.
* Robert McKee, currently president of the global industrial fluids business, also will head up D-M-E, which was previously led by Lawrence. McKee, 57, now heads two of Milacron's four operating segments, industrial fluids and mold technologies, which have combined annual sales of more than $250 million. He has worked for Milacron since 1977.
* Controller Danny Gamez was named a vice president with expanded responsibilities. The 46-year Gamez joined Milacron in 2005.
``I've worked closely with these leaders over the past several years and have great confidence in each of their abilities,'' Lawrence said. ``I would also like to acknowledge Dave Bertke for the dedication and leadership he has shown in his long career of outstanding service to Milacron.''
Meanwhile, the layoffs show the tough plastics machinery market facing Milacron — and other equipment makers — moving into 2009. Milacron announced the layoffs of 90 people in Batavia on Dec. 8-9.
``It was pretty cross-cut. It was office, technical and manufacturing,'' Lawrence said. ``Everybody got severance and outplacement assistance.''
Lawrence said Milacron has seen a slowdown in new machinery sales and also some falloff in the ServTek parts and service business, and maintenance and repair products.
``We've seen a bit of hesitancy on the part of our customers, especially in the capital area, in terms of credit availability,'' Lawrence said. He said some capital investment projects have been delayed.