Grindex appoints new managing director

Grindex has appointed Joakim Cronstrand as its managing director, replacing Peter Schmidt, who is now manager of the dewatering business unit at ITT Water & Wastewater, Grindex's sister company within ITT.

Mr Cronstrand, who started in his new post in mid-January, is a Swedish national who has worked for Grindex for several years, latterly as sales manager for North America. He was also responsible for the company's IT systems.

At the same time, Grindex has appointed a Per Rehn as managing director of its North American operations. Mr Rehn is a pump engineer who was part of the team responsible for Grindex's more recent pump developments. He moved to the US last Autumn.

Although impacted by the economic downturn, the company said it has been performing well. Sales in 2009 fell by 20% - a modest fall in comparison to many construction equipment manufacturers - and half of that fall was the result of one customer, likely to be a major rental company, who cut pump investment in the year. A Grindex spokesman said the company was targeting a 4% increase in sales in 2010.

The company is expanding its export activities. Additional sales staff have been recruited for Russia and North America - where further expansion is planned this year - and the company has established an Asia Pacific sales office in Australia.

At Bauma, the company will launch a new high-head pump for its Master range and a new generation of slurry pumps that will meet the need for extra abrasive resistant submersible pumps.