PEOPLE WATCH
Kivnon expands its leadership team
Kivnon , a global specialist and provider of autonomous mobile robots ( AMRs ) and automated guided vehicles , has appointed a new UK country manager and a sales director to help meet product demand in the United Kingdom . Jose Pantaleao will be its new UK country manager while Meir Ziskin has been appointed as the UK sales manager .
“ Jose Pantaleao , who has been Kivnon ’ s France country manager since May 2020 , will also manage the Kivnon UK subsidiary that provides AGV / AMR vehicles and related maintenance services to the UK . He will provide project management , sales , purchasing and technical services to support demand for Kivnon solutions in the UK and France ,” commented Kivnon .
Mr . Pantaleao brings many years of global automation expertise gained in logistics , e-commerce , automotive , goods-to-persons and PLC programming positions including projects in China , Spain , India and Denmark .
“ Meir Ziskin is an accomplished sales and business development professional with more than ten years of experience in the logistics and automation industries . He has a proven track record of driving business growth and establishing solid relationships with clients in various sectors including automotive , e-commerce and pharmaceuticals . Before joining Kivnon , he held multiple sales roles at companies such as K2 Automation and Su-Pad in Israel for Universal Robots and MiR ,” added Kivnon .
“ Global digital transformation is intensifying interest in our AGV and AMR technologies and the UK has been one of our fastest growing regions . We are pleased to announce that Jose and Meir are joining Kivnon to help us take full advantage of these emerging opportunities ,” commented Thierry Delmas , Managing Director , Kivnon .
Kivnon is an international company dedicated to mobile robotics with its head office in Barcelona ( Spain ). Since its beginning as a family-owned business in 2009 , it has been offering customers technological solutions for the implementation of automated guided vehicle ( AGVs / AMRs ) systems . Its comprehensive projects in mobile robotics include the design , prototyping and manufacture of AGVs / AMRs , their installation and launch , and technical assistance and customer service . Kivnon exports to more than 17 countries and continues to extend through subsidiaries in Europe , North America and South America . n
Above : Jose Pantaleao . Right : Meir Ziskin .
www . kivnon . com
Alvarado and Kline are hired by NEMIC
Vince Alvarado , a longtime business manager for Sheet Metal Workers Local 49 in Albuquerque , New Mexico ( USA ), recently joined the National Energy Management Institute Committee ( NEMIC ) as the fund ’ s new director of implementation . Alvarado has been tasked with overseeing some of NEMIC ’ s legislative initiatives and working to implement solutions that NEMIC identifies across the U . S . A .
Alvarado started working for a small independent refrigeration contractor as a junior in high school . He apprenticed at Local 49 and went on to serve in various leadership roles there , culminating in his election as business manager / financial secretary in 2010 . After a few years in that role , he was also elected to serve in a statewide leadership role as President of the New Mexico Federation of Labour , AFL-CIO , in 2018 .
In both roles , Alvarado had to find ways to influence local politics for the betterment of New Mexico residents and , at NEMIC , Alvarado looks forward to helping people and organisations like Local 49 on a much larger scale .
“ Even before the pandemic , Alvarado was fighting to improve indoor air quality regulations along with smoke and fire damper laws . In 2019 , Local 49 fought for and passed SB 143 — the nation ’ s first statewide fire safety law . Alvarado subsequently worked with leaders in Nevada , New Jersey and Hawaii to pass similar legislation ” said NEMIC .
NEMIC also recently hired Ohio native Cassandra Kline as director of building construction technology . In that role , she serves as a field representative to 150 local unions in the United States and Canada . She is responsible for creating and implementing strategies for the use of new and existing technologies to expand skills and opportunities for members of the International Association of Sheet Metal Air , Rail and Transportation ( SMART ) workers and signatory employers .
“ I ’ m building relationships with local unions and contractors , promoting new business ideas and technology , as well as representing NEMIC on committees and developing documents for [ ANSI National Accreditation Board ( ANAB )] accreditation ,” Kline said .
Vince Alvarado . Cassandra Kline .
As a second-generation , sheet-metal worker , Kline entered the apprenticeship on advice from her father , who served as the training coordinator at Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 in Toledo , Ohio . Kline ’ s brother is also a sheet-metal worker and she has an uncle in the electrical trade .
Upon graduating the sheet-metal apprenticeship in 2020 , she worked in testing , adjusting and balancing ( TAB ), architectural , commercial and heavy industrial applications of sheet-metal work . In 2021 , Kline took classes through the International Training Institute ( ITI ), the educational arm of the unionised sheet-metal industry in the U . S ., and became a part-time instructor at Local 33 for HVAC Fire Life Safety , indoor air quality and TAB . She then joined Gem Inc . as a field supervisor for the TAB division and was soon promoted to service manager .
She said that her rise in the field is a testament to the fact the sheet-metal industry provides opportunities to anyone willing to put in the time and effort .
“ Be prepared for the opportunities . Show up , work hard and learn everything you can ,” she said . “ I ’ m fortunate to be surrounded by a great team . I ’ m learning every single day and have great mentors looking out for me and helping to guide me along the way .” n
ISMR July / August 2023 | ismr . net | 11