TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) – a diversified global manufacturer of
engineered and applied products – today announced the transition of
leadership within its Norris Cylinder business. Jerry Van Auken,
president of Norris Cylinder, has retired as president, and Charles
Manz, currently vice president of operations at Norris, has succeeded
Van Auken as president. Manz will report directly to TriMas President
and Chief Executive Officer Dave Wathen. Van Auken will remain with the
company in an advisory role and assist in facilitating the transition.
“We are pleased Chuck has accepted the appointment as president. With
his experienced operational and leadership skills, he is well positioned
to lead Norris Cylinder into the future,” said Wathen. “We thank Jerry
for his guidance, expertise and leadership during the last eight years,
and are fortunate he is staying with the company in an advisory role.
During Jerry’s tenure as president, Norris has achieved sales growth
that outpaced general industrial growth, as a result of organic
initiatives and disciplined bolt-on acquisitions. By leveraging these
assets and driving continued productivity, Norris has also successfully
raised its margin and return on capital levels during this period of
time.”
Norris Cylinder is a leading provider of a complete line of
high-pressure and low-pressure steel cylinders for the transportation,
storage and dispensing of compressed gases including oxygen, nitrogen,
argon, helium and other gases for the industrial and health care
markets. Norris also offers low-pressure steel cylinders used to contain
and dispense acetylene gas for welding and cutting industries. Major
domestic and international industrial gas producers and distributors,
welding equipment distributors and buying groups, as well as equipment
manufacturers, are end customers for Norris' products.
Manz joined Norris in 2010 as the vice president of operations and has
assumed increasing responsibilities since that time. Prior to Norris, he
spent 12 years at Danfoss Drives, the last seven as president. Manz has
more than 25 years of increasing responsibilities across multiple
functional areas including operations, sales, finance, controllership,
information technology and human resources. Manz received a Bachelor of
Business Administration from Lakeland College in Wisconsin.
Van Auken was appointed president of Norris Cylinder in 2008, after
joining the company in 2007 as general manager. Before joining Norris,
he held general manager and vice president positions with companies such
as Pressed Steel Tank Company, Tax-Airfreight, Planar (Standish
Industries) and Eppendorf North America. Van Auken also sits on both the
Executive and Board of Directors for the Compressed Gas Association
(CGA), which develops and promotes safety standards and safe practices
in the industrial gas industry.
About TriMas
Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ:
TRS) provides engineered and applied products for growing markets
worldwide. TriMas is organized into four reportable segments: Packaging,
Aerospace, Energy and Engineered Components. TriMas has approximately
4,000 employees at more than 50 facilities in 16 countries. For more
information, visit www.trimascorp.com.
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