(l-r) Albert Klein, CFO FIT AG and Ken Gray, Chairman FIT America Inc.
FIT, the German additive manufacturing group, is expanding U.S. activities. In 2014, FIT established FIT West Inc. in Santa Clara, CA. This fully owned subsidiary, renamed FIT America Corp., has moved to Southborough, MA, near Boston. It has announced Kenneth D. Gray as Chairman of FIT America Corp.
"Through 2015, Gray served as the first Director of Innovation of Caterpillar Inc," said a company spokesperson. "His 30-year Caterpillar career encompassed diverse global leadership positions in product, operations, marketing, dealer development and engineering. Gray lived and worked in Asia, Europe and the U.S. His products and teams were featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company Magazine and Crane's Business. He is an Edison and Platts Global Energy Award winner. He holds Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, and completed executive development programs at Stanford University in Stanford, CA, the Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Bradley University. John Baliotti, Vice President of U.S. Sales since 2016, will support Gray."
"FIT's additive design and manufacturing capabilities are second to none, but the business model is even more intriguing," said Gray. "Partnerships to accelerate industrial clients toward their own additive independence are what I am most excited about. Our aim is for additive to be a mainstream tool for U.S. industrial manufacturers - and soon."
In Southborough, FIT America has also established a fully owned subsidiary called Boston Ceramics LLC, with Andrew Jeffery as its President. Boston Ceramics has established a facility for additive manufacturing of ceramics. The company focuses on manufacturing high value and quality ceramic objects for consumers. Jeffery has been active in this field for more than 20 years having established the Figulo company which was acquired by 3D Systems Corporation in 2013. Jeffery is an expat Australian and U.S. citizen who has lived in the U.S., mostly in Boston, for 25 years.
Carl Fruth, founder and CEO at FIT, said: "We are delighted to welcome Ken and Andy to the FIT Management Team and with the establishment of our first factory in the U.S. We are expecting a major market in the U.S. for FIT's additive manufacturing capabilities and have now established a management team and structure to develop more partnerships with U.S. clients and make further investments."
For more information contact:
John Baliotti
FIT America Inc.
150 Cordaville Road, Suite 100
Southborough, MA 01772
sales@fit-america.com
www.fit-america.com