nhbb :: Senior Engineer Assumes Helm of Astro’s Product Engineering Department

Senior Engineer Assumes Helm of Astro’s Product Engineering Department

February 22, 2007 (Laconia, NH): The Astro Division has promoted Paul O’Brien to Manager of Product Engineering. In his new role he oversees the departments that deal with customer engineering support and product development and testing.

“Paul has always done an excellent job of supporting our customers’ requirements,” said Astro’s Product Sales Manager, Gino Crecco. “He brings to the position his considerable knowledge of both bearing manufacturing and application design and his dedication to Astro’s continued success in the markets we serve.”

Paul now leads the Product Engineering department with five product engineers and an estimator, and the R&D/Test Lab with a senior test engineer and test engineer. The Product Engineering department serves as a liaison between Astro and its customers’ product design groups. As new products move through the design procsess, product engineers are charged with shaping design details, generating price quotes, evaluating manufacturing procedures, and analyzing bearing capabilities. Working closely with the Test Lab, product engineers also collect and analyze data relevant to bearing load and life criteria.

In addition to focusing on customer-specific design considerations, Paul has assumed responsibility for the company’s R&D initiatives. “We now look to Paul to investigate new materials and processes that will eventually lead to the development of new products,” said Gino. “Such initiatives are necessary if we are to remain a vital solutions-provider to the aerospace market.”

Paul joined the company in 1993 as a Manufacturing Engineer. In this role he made improvements to manufacturing processes and resolved problems related to production. He joined the Product Engineering department in 1996 and a short while later was promoted to Senior Product Engineer, the position he held until this promotion.

Paul received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from the University of Lowell in 1987, and he lives in Center Harbor, NH with his wife, Sally.

For more information contact:
Hans Baker, Marketing Coordinator
NHBB, 175 Jaffrey Road, Peterborough, NH 03458
603.924.4100, hbaker@nhbb.com