EKRA expands international presence

Citation

(2000), "EKRA expands international presence", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 12 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2000.21912aab.030

EKRA expands international presence

EKRA expands international presence

Keywords: EKRA, Growth

With the foundation of EKRA America, EKRA GmbH, Bönnigheim, implements the second stage of its strategy to build up its presence in the international world market. Over the last year EKRA Asia was established with headquarters in Singapore. In October 1999, the company opened its American headquarters in Marlborough, MA to manage all North- and South-American activities. EKRA considers this as an important step to serve the US-American market efficiently and has set up a fully equipped demo and training centre to offer American customers the EKRA-standard of support and services. The American headquarters will be promoted through the existing extensive network of sales representatives.

EKRA America is headed up by two industry-experienced and well-known managers. Steven Hall, general manager, will be responsible for business operations, and Jim Bernhard will be vice president sales and marketing.

In his last position as marketing director at BTU (Reflow & Wave soldering) Steven Hall was responsible for worldwide activities. Before this he was active in the same position for the MPM Corporation. Hall is looking forward to the new challenge: "After nearly two years (due to competition clause) I can become active again in the screen printing market. I have prepared myself for a long time for this task and I am very positive of the future of EKRA Inc." Besides his employment with EKRA, Steven Hall is the honorary president of SMEMA.

Jim Bernhard is responsible for the development of the Sales and Support Organisation of EKRA in North- and South-America. Bernhard can look back to a long-term experience in the SMT market. He comes from MPM Corporation (now Speedline) where he has been active for many years in different management positions.

Roland Heynen, vice president of the EKRA GmbH, sees EKRA's international presence as essential in these times of globalisation. He comments: "`We see an increasing demand for our products in the USA. We are therefore convinced that this is the right time to focus on the US market. We believe that we will make 30 percent of our revenues within the next two years in the USA."

For more information please contact: Ilika Wissling, EKRA Eduard Kraft GmbH, Zeppelinstrasse 16, D-74357 Bönnigheim. Tel: +49 (0)7143 8844 0; Fax: +49 (0)7143 8844-22; E-mail: marketing@EKRA.com or Helga Wick, WICKPR & Partners, Trogerstrasse 50, D-81675 MÏnchen. Tel: +49 (0)89 471061; Fax: +49 (0)89 41902903; E-mail: helga@wickpr.de