People in composites: December 2023

Dieffenbacher announces developments in management team

Lukas Langer, CFO of the Dieffenbacher management team.

Following a long-planned succession plan, German machine and plant manufacturer Dieffenbacher (Eppingen) is changing the responsibilities and composition of its management board effective Jan. 1, 2024. With the appointment of Dieffenbacher shareholder Lukas Langer to the management team, it will grow from three to four members. Langer will take over the position of CFO from Volker Kitzelmann, who will continue as a member of the Dieffenbacher management board. The responsibilities of CEO Christian Dieffenbacher and CTO Lothar Fischer remain unchanged.

Langer joined Dieffenbacher in February 2021 and has since assumed responsibilities for HR and IT across the group. He also played a key role in shaping the acquisition process for Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH in 2022 and 2023 and subsequently establishing the company’s new Energy business unit. After studying business administration at the University of Mannheim (B.Sc.) as well as at the London School of Economics and Yale University (M.Sc.), Langer initially worked for 5 years in purchasing for steel and body parts at what is now Mercedes-Benz AG and on the strategy team for the board of management with a focus on production.

“I am proud to be following in the footsteps of my grandfather Albert Dieffenbacher, who ran the company together with his cousin Gerhard from 1952 to 1985 in the third generation, and my uncle Axel Dieffenbacher, who was part of the management team from 1997 to 2012,” says Langer. “I am very much looking forward to my new role and, above all, to working even more closely with Christian, Lothar Fischer and Volker Kitzelmann on the management board.”

Kitzelmann has held various positions at Dieffenbacher for more than 35 years. He started in January 1988 as head of controlling before taking over the management of the entire commercial department in 1993. Additionally, he became head of the Wood business unit in 2005. In March 2016, Kitzelmann joined the management board as CFO and was responsible for the finance and controlling, auditing, legal and HR departments. In the new composition of the Dieffenbacher management board, Kitzelmann’s role will include, among other duties, overall responsibility for the Energy business unit, which was founded at the beginning of 2023.

“Lukas Langer and I have used the past three years to prepare for the handover of responsibility and my duties as CFO in the best possible way,” says Kitzelmann. “During that time, I got to know and appreciate him very well, both personally and professionally. This makes me all the more happy to pass the baton to him.”

BAC appoints operations consultant to strengthen strategic global expansion plans

Briggs Automotive Co. (BAC, Liverpool) continues its fast-paced global growth strategy with the appointment of Alan Foster as an operations consultant. Foster will help support BAC’s operational and production processes, further driving the company’s strategic global expansion.

Foster arrives at BAC with a career history and wealth of experience totaling more than 45 years in the automotive and manufacturing industries. Having started his career at University in Liverpool, just a stone’s throw from BAC’s current Liverpool factory, Foster went on to help drive production strategy and operations across numerous automotive and manufacturing brands including Toyota, General Motors and the McLaren Group.

Alan Foster, Briggs Automotive Co. (BAC) operations consultant/

In his most recent role as group executive director for global facilities management and infrastructure strategy at the McLaren Group, Foster covered McLaren’s Automotive, Formula 1 and Electronics businesses, ensuring that each department had the correct facility profiles to deliver on a range of ambitious business plans. During his time with McLaren Automotive, Foster also oversaw critical developments to the OEM’s high-end automotive manufacturing processes, supporting a range of models from the Sports Series and Super Series to special one-off commissions.

The Mono supercar range is now exported to more than 47 territories globally. This marks a significant achievement for BAC, with 90% of its production reaching international customers through a dealer network which has seen expansion across Asia, North America and the Middle East in 2023.

BAC’s growth in 2023 has also seen the company make a number of hires across all aspects of the business, continuing its commitment to furthering the skills base in Liverpool City. Appointments were made across multiple levels of seniority, ranging from apprentices transitioning into the workplace from local collages to more senior roles that support the production and development of future products.

“I look forward to contributing to BAC’s ambitious growth strategy and helping the company to realize its customer fulfillment objectives,” Foster says. “The opportunity to work with a cross-section of the company, from sharing my experience and knowledge with the 2023 apprentice cohort to working with seasoned team leaders and the senior team in optimizing production processes for the Mono is an exciting prospect. I’ve admired Mono’s technical engineering from afar for years and am thrilled to be working with the team to support their strategic global expansion.”

STRUCTeam welcomes principal material scientist and executive director

STRUCTeam Ltd. (Cowes, U.K.), an independent composites engineering consultancy, has appointed Raphael Sajous as principal material scientist and executive director. In his new role, Sajous will be responsible for advancing STRUCTeam’s expertise with the integration of additional manufacturing capabilities for the renewable energy sector.

Raphael Sajous, STRUCTeam principal material scientist and executive director.

With more than 30 years of experience in the composites industry, Sajous has held various senior technical and commercial roles, with a focus on renewable energy. Throughout his career, he has actively supported clients in navigating the evolution of wind turbine blades, witnessing the growth of blades from 12 meters to in excess of 100 meters. His diverse skill set encompasses manufacturing support, process innovation, design for manufacture, failure mode and effects analysis, cost reduction strategies, resin, prepreg and adhesive development, testing and certification, and more.

“We are excited to welcome Raphael to STRUCTeam,” says Julien Sellier, founder and managing director of STRUCTeam. “His extensive experience in renewables and the development of composite blades make him a valuable addition to our team. Raphael’s expertise aligns perfectly with our commitment to lead our design for manufacture focus within the renewables sector.”

STRUCTeam remains actively engaged in numerous wind and tidal projects, focused on providing support to leading turbine and blade manufacturers in their composites operations. The company assists clients with product development, assessment and introduction of new materials, processes and design technologies, enabling it to deliver an all-encompassing renewable offering.

Gougeon Brothers brings on western regional sales manager

Kathryn Seymour-Heiner, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the composites industry, is assuming the position of western regional sales manager for Gougeon Brothers Inc. (GBI, Bay City, Mich., U.S.), effective Jan. 1, 2024. Bringing a remarkable track record, Heiner aims to fortify and enhance GBI’s composites partnerships.

Her career journey showcases notable achievements, having held pivotal roles at Revchem Composites, Nexeo Solutions/Composites One, Shamrock Supply Company and Ashland Inc. Moreover, Heiner’s academic background from the University of the Pacific in behavioral psychology, coupled with her practical experience and succession of internships, emphasizes her commitment to continual learning and professional advancement.

“Following an exhaustive search, we are delighted to welcome Kaytee to our team,” President Alan Gurski says. “Her diverse expertise promises innovative approaches and strategic insights propelling GBI toward new collaborative heights.”