PEOPLE WATCH
New President of KAR
Dr . Jin-Oh Kim , Founder and CEO of Robots and Design Co ., Ltd . in South Korea , was appointed as the eleventh President of the Korea Association of Robot Industry ( KAR ) on 28 February 2024 .
He is a specialist in robotics and factory automation , having worked in the industry for over 33 years as a scientist , educator , author and entrepreneur . Early in his career , he worked as a senior leader in Secom Intelligent System Lab , Japan , and as director of the robot business in Samsung Electronics .
Since 1999 , he has been a professor at the School of Robotics at Kwangwoon University , Seoul , Korea . He has also served as a visiting associate professor of computer science at Stanford University . From 2003 to 2008 he was the national director of the steering committee of robotics in Korea . “ Over the years , Dr . Jin-Oh Kim has
The Metal Construction Association ( MCA ) in the USA presented its annual Larry A . Swaney Award to Tom Seitz , and its firstever Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Bus . The awards were announced on 30 January 2024 during MCA ’ s 2024 Winter Meeting at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas in Scottsdale , Arizona ( USA ).
The Larry A . Swaney Award is bestowed upon an industry professional for contributions to the success of the association and the betterment of the metal construction industry . This year ’ s recipient , Tom Seitz , is the former director of strategic accounts for 3A Composites Americas , where he managed business development for its largest customers .
Seitz has served extensively within MCA , including as a Board Member from 2016 until 2020 . He also co-chaired the Metal Composite Material Council and chaired the Metal Composite Material Alliance . In January 2020 , Seitz became the executive director of the Metal Composite Material ( MCM ) Alliance .
“ Our new Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize an individual ’ s lifetime contributions and accomplishments to the association and metal construction industry . Dick Bus earned the award for the breadth and significance of his involvement worked with many companies and led the development of over 400 robots and systems in various fields . He has also published two books : ‘ Robots , the Society and Economy ’ and ‘ Defence Robotics ’ and is now working on two more . He earned his BS and MS degree in mechanical
Dr . Jin-Oh Kim . engineering from Seoul National University ,
and his Ph . D . degree in Robotics from Carnegie Melon University ,” commented the International Federation of Robotics ( IFR ).
In 2008 , Dr . Kim received the Robot Industry of America ’ s ( RIA ) highest award : the Joseph Engelberger Award for Leadership . In 2019 , he received the “ Korea Award ” in recognition of his contribution to the advance of Science / IT . n
www
. k-robot . co . kr /
MCA honours Seitz and Bus
Tom Seitz . Dick Bus .
and impact on the metal construction industry ,“ commented the MCA .
“ Bus is the President of ATAS International and served on MCA ’ s Board for 18 years , including as Vice Chair from 2000 to 2006 and Chair from 2007 to 2009 . Bus ’ s accomplishments include playing a major role in the growth of the U . S . and Canadian residential metal roofing industry . Bus was also instrumental in the creation of the Metal Roofing Alliance ,” added the association .
In 2013 , Bus was inducted into the Metal Roofing Hall of Fame . In 2017 , he received the MCA Triumph Award and was recently named as one of the “ Power 100 ” by the Lehigh Valley Business Journal . n
www . metalconstruction . org
Brenden O ’ Brien , Regional Sales Manager , AIDA-America .
AIDA-America promotions
AIDA-America , a metal stamping press manufacturer in Dayton , OH ( USA ) has promoted Brenden O ’ Brien to regional sales manager ( RSM ) in Ohio ; North Carolina ; South Carolina and Virginia . George Munschauer remains regional sales manager in these states . As Co-RSMs , Brenden and George are the AIDA-America points of contact for all metal stamping and complete forming system needs in these states .
Mason Round has been promoted to RSM in Kentucky ; New Mexico ; Oklahoma ; Tennessee and Texas . Greg Bonczkowski remains regional sales manager in New Mexico ; Oklahoma and Texas . As Co-RSMs , Greg and Mason are the points of contact for all metal stamping system needs in New Mexico , Oklahoma and Texas .
Rand Mellinger remains regional sales manager in Kentucky and Tennessee . As Co-RSMs , Mason and Rand are the points of contact for all metal stamping system needs in Kentucky and Tennessee . n
www
. aida-global . com
Mason Round , Regional Sales Manager , AIDA-America .
10 | ismr . net | ISMR April 2024