April 19, 2007 — Portland, OR-based Esco Corp. is reorganizing the management of its Engineered Products group in a move it says is "aimed at operational excellence." Esco manufactures cast metal wear-parts and industrial components for mining, construction, power generation, and aerospace markets.

Cal Collins, who who has been Esco's vice president of Administration, secretary, and general counsel, now becomes group vice president, Engineered Products, North American Operations. This position unifies all Esco manufacturing in North America and Mexico, and the company indicates Collins will focus on optimizing the manufacturing cost base and building capacity, to meet growing sales demand.

Pat Fonner, formerly vice president of the Engineered Products group, becomes group vice president, Engineered Products, Global Sales, and Marketing. He will head the group’s global sales, marketing, supply chain, engineering, and product management teams.

Esco president and COO Larry Huget said the realignment “will allow Esco to drive quality, value, and speed (QVS) initiatives deeper, increase capacity in our facilities, leverage best practices, and utilize our capital base even more efficiently.”

Esco hopes to build decentralized sales organizations that are geographically aligned around the world, to sell all of its Engineered Products offerings in each region. Huget added that the new geographic focus will allow Esco to leverage the expertise of several key executives, and create “a truly local, customer-focused presence in all regions.”