Category: Team Members

Twenty-two dependents of BW team members, representing 12 divisions of Barry-Wehmiller Group, Inc. and subsidiaries and their affiliates across the US and Canada, received scholarships for the ’20-21academic year from the Marjorie E. Chapman Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in memory of Bob Chapman’s mother who attended college, thanks to the generosity of a businessman in her Iowa hometown.

Among the 107 applicants, 16 need-based scholarships were awardedtotaling $80,000 and 6 essay applicants received awards totaling $30,000. Additionally, 16 need-based awards were renewed from the previous year, totaling$95,000.

Watch your inbox for more about the winners and excerpts from some of the essays. Information on how to apply for the ’21-22 school year will be available in early 2021.

With field service techs needing to stay home for 14 days after returning from the field in order to keep those in the facility safer, PCMC decided to turn these subject matter experts into temporary technical writers in support of an overhaul of PCMC’s preventive maintenance instruction package. Rather than spend hours machine-side capturing the steps for new instructions, the field service techs are writing up the core steps while at home. The Technical Publications team then reviews and formats the instructions for customer use by fleshing out the instructions, adding safety precautions and more. This project allows our quarantining service techs to stay busy and adding value, while keeping our facilities safer for everyone!

Left: Shaun Dudek, PCMC Field Service Tech
Right: Chryssy Joski, Technical Writer

BW Papersystems recently commissioned one of its sheeters for an Ahlstrom facility in France. Ahlstrom is one of the world’s leading players in sustainable and innovative fiber solutions. BWP’s machine was designed specifically for converting material used in the medical industry such as gowns and surgical masks. Project leader Chris Anderson, BWP-Sheboygan, said, “Members of the White paper team, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, assembly, shipping, Four Seasons and European Field Service Engineers deserve the recognition and credit for the success of this project. They worked many long days and weekends last summer to support the acceptance test runs in Phillips to achieve success. We are thrilled that the machine is performing well at time when our customer Ahlstrom needs the production the most!”

After almost 40 years with the Hema(Synerlink) workshop team in Quimper, France, Didier Wallart retired on March 31st, unable to celebrate his many years of contributions and friendships. Recently, however, he’s been able to pass on some of his knowledge to a newly “adopted” team member, Dylan LeJolly. Because the Hema team was very busy with work, Dylan joined them temporarily in February from Synerlink’s facility in Puiseux-Pontoise. When lockdown was decided by the French Government in mid-March, instead of returning to his home near Paris during confinement, Dylan decided to stay in Quimper and carry on working amongst the team. He chose to stay because he had committed himself to helping the team and he thought that it might be safer for his parents if he stayed away from them while the virus is active and circulating. As for Didier, as French people say, “Ce n’est qu’un au revoir.” He’s promised to organize his party as soon as the Hema team is freed from lockdown. “Un grand merci” from all of BW, Didier!

From L to R: Gwen Philippe, team leader; Didier Wallart; Dylan Le Jolly; Thierry Esnault, mechanical assembler

When Josh learned late one Friday night that a customer in Japan had to cancel his trip to BW-Integrated Systems in Reedley, California (USA), for Final Acceptance Testing (FAT) on Monday, Josh jumped in to help! After a trip to the store the next day to buy the required equipment (TV, webcam, etc.), Josh configured the setup to make the virtual FAT go smoothly.

Laura, the wife of Edris Boscolo, a 20+-year team member of the Mestrino, Italy BWFS team, is very capable with a sewing machine! Soon after the COVID-19 emergency began, masks and disinfectants were nowhere to be found. So Laura sewed masks that were washable and recyclable, thanks to a pocket in which a gauze piece is inserted and can be replaced. One morning Edris showed up to work with 50 masks for team members at the Hayssen and Schib plants. She also made masks for the families of team members and for a nursing home in Mestre.

In late August, Kyle Chapman was named President of Barry-Wehmiller, joining his father CEO Bob Chapman in a senior leader role of our 135-year-old, $3 billion global organization. Mike Monarchi became BW’s new Chief Financial Officer, joining us from Eaton and General Electric. READ MORE

At the same time, Ryan Gable was promoted to Managing Partner of BW Forsyth Partners, Barry-Wehmiller’s hybrid equity firm, stepping into the role after co-leading with Kyle Chapman. READ MORE

In early March, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began accelerating in the US, Frank Lanuto began as Chief Information Officer for BW. Frank most recently served as a Design Group partner where he led the consulting firm’s enterprise technology consulting practice. READ MORE 

In September, the BW Papersystems Southern WI leadership team celebrated team members’ hard work and dedication over the past months by handing out gift boxes at BWP’s Sheboygan, Madison and New Berlin locations. The leadership teams filled the gift boxes with locally sourced items and were present to thank each individual when they picked up their boxes. “We have been overwhelmed with the positive responses from our associates who appreciated the recognition gift to share with their families, appreciated the leaders being on hand to thank them personally, and appreciated that we supported local small businesses,” said Molly Holzrichter, BWP’s Director, Culture & People Development – Wisconsin.

Crescent Design, headquartered in San Diego, CA (USA), designs and manufactures hydraulic burst leak test equipment, accessories and auxiliary equipment used in the manufacturing of medical devices. “Crescent Design’s Hydraulic Burst Leak Tester is the standard for testing in the catheter manufacturing industry,” said Machine Solutions President Brian Strini. “We are excited to add another best-in-class technology to our testing equipment catalog and look forward to the additional capabilities we can bring to our customers.” READ MORE

An article in Forbes this week featuring an interview with Bob Chapman highlights the value of our culture and the success of our business. “Machinery can increase productivity in measurable increments, and new processes can create significant efficiencies. However, only people can stun you with quantum leaps….” says Bob in the article. Please take a moment to share the article with your networks—business contacts, friends, family, on social media, etc. Let’s see how high we can push the views to share our important message with the world!