Milacron LLC has named a new chief technology officer: Bruce Catoen, a 25-year veteran of the plastics industry who worked at Mold-Masters Ltd. and Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Catoen will work with Milacron's product development teams to establish and put in place a three-year roadmap for product technology, the Cincinnati-based machinery maker announced Feb. 11.
Company officials spelled out Catoen's job description as CTO: to institutionalize product and service development, invest in new people, guide investment in new technologies and build a strong portfolio of technologies with solid intellectual property protection and evaluate potential acquisitions.
Milacron makes injection molding machines, extruders, blow molding machines and structural foam molding machines.
Catoen was Mold-Masters' vice president of business development and chief technology officer when Milacron bought the Canada-based hot runner specialist one year ago. He had joined Mold-Masters in 2007, coming from Husky, where he had several positions, including vice president of packaging.
Catoen will report to Ron Krisanda, Milacron's chief operating officer and the president of Mold-Masters.
Milacron CEO Tom Goeke said technological leadership and systems solutions are key strategic elements for the equipment maker. "We needed someone with a proven track record of innovation and leadership to help guide us to this goal," he said in a news release.
"Our customers expect innovation and we want to ensure that the products we offer continue to push technology boundaries. Our objective is to support our customers through advancements in productivity, process control and quality. With Bruce's appointment we have made a significant move toward these goals," Goeke said.
