Walker Magnetics Group Names New Worldwide President/COO
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Worcester, MA, October 17, 2006 - Walker Magnetics Group, Inc. has announced the appointment of Richard Longo to the position of President and COO for worldwide company operations. Walker Magnetics Group, the World's largest manufacturer of permanent, electromagnetic and electro-permanent magnet products and systems for industrial applications, is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts and has manufacturing, research and development capabilities in North America, Western Europe and Asia. The company delivers its product line to over 190 countries to support global manufacturing industries.
Mr. Longo is a 12-year veteran of Walker Magnetics Group. In his most recent position as President for North American Operations, Mr. Longo helped coordinate the expansion of the company into China with the formation of three strategic alliances, formed to position the company for rapid growth in the Asian market and to provide capability and capacity in both production and delivery of critical designs. In his new role as President and COO for worldwide operations, Mr. Longo will formalize and increase business alliances in the Asian markets to reinforce the company's regional and global capability. Mr. Longo will also focus on expanding R&D in North America and building capability in the United States. Strategic initiatives in other parts of the company's European and South American markets include solidifying recent growth in Chile and Brazil, expansion of the company's European business into the Eastern EU markets from its base in the Czech Republic, as well as realignment and reinforcement of western EU capabilities. With a complete line of industrial magnetic products, standard as well as custom designed and built to specific applications, offering more models and sizes than anyone else, the 110-year old company is the largest of its kind in the global market.
Mr. Longo is a career professional in manufacturing and microelectronics. His career, in addition to his 12 years at Walker Magnetics Group, has included key management positions at Raytheon and Teledyne, as well as a 10-year entrepreneurial effort during which he formed and became President of Warner Power, a manufacturer of transformers and power supplies based in Warner, New Hampshire. Mr. Longo's career has included a strong commitment to civic involvement, with terms as Chairman of the Planning Board, Chairman of the Water and Sewer Commission and member of the School Building Committee in Wilmington, MA. His Board memberships have included The Greenerd Company, Nashua, NH; Thunder Line-Z, Hampstead, NH; and Warner Power, Warner, NH. Mr. Longo lives in Central Massachusetts with his wife of 41 years.
Walker Magnetics Group, Inc., a privately owned company, is the international leader in the design and manufacture of the largest range of magnetic products for light and heavy industry and the applied sciences. Formed in 1898 by Oakley S. Walker in Worcester, Massachusetts, the company has grown from a manufacturer of one primary product, the electromagnetic chuck used in magnetic workholding in the machine tool industry, to a global concern with sales in excess of $40 million. The company's growth has occurred through strategic acquisition and expansion of product line, resulting in the largest range of custom designs for industrial use for workholding, material handling and separation applications. Walker permanent chucks, the worldwide industry standard, are used in a variety of turning, milling, grinding, EDM and other machining operations. Walker recently developed the world's largest rotary grinding chuck, 200 inches in diameter, designed to hold work pieces weighing up to 100,000 pounds. Walker lift magnets range from a capability of 30 kilograms, to large rectangular electric lift magnets with capabilities in excess of 50 tons used for material handling by shipyards, warehouses and steel mills. Walker Magnetics Group employs a workforce of over 350 worldwide, including sales, manufacturing and R&D. With manufacturing and R&D at all locations in North America, Asia and the EU, Walker Magnetics Group is positioned for growth in the Asian markets, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet states and South America. The company is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. For more information, contact WALKER MAGNETICS GROUP, INC., 17 Rockdale Street, Worcester, MA 01606, 1-508-853-3232.
Pat Frankian
Dever Frankian Advertising Communications
Tel #508-634-9083
