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January 2024 – Quantum Design Inc. of Machesney Park, IL Announces New Leadership for 2024 and Beyond
Machesney Park, IL, January 2024 – Quantum Design Inc., a leading control systems integrator and equipment manufacturer is making some exciting changes heading into 2024, with new leadership appointments. The original owners of the company, Danny Pearse and David Culvey, are stepping back and new leadership is settling in this January.
Quantum Design started in 1986 as a Controls Engineering firm and quickly grew from a one-man-engineering shop to a full-service control panel fabricator and Control Systems Integrator. Over the past 37 years and under the leadership of Danny Pearse and David Culvey, Quantum has significantly grown its controls engineering division and purchased four additional product lines propelling them into global company status.
David Culvey, former Executive Vice President, has officially retired as of December 31st, 2023. While David has stepped away from the business as an owner/executive and has plans to enjoy his retirement, he will be available to assist the company in the future on a consultant level.
Danny Pearse, CEO of Quantum Design says, “We would like to thank Dave for his commitment to the company and his leadership over the past 37 years. He has been an anchor and an inspiration to all and the countless hours he has dedicated to the company have not gone unnoticed. On a personal level, I consider Dave a great friend, and while I am sad his time at Quantum has come to an end, I am grateful for the years we’ve worked together and proud of the company we’ve built.”
Pearse, having recently transitioned from President to CEO, will be taking a step back from the business as well and focusing on the company at a big-picture level. “I’m not leaving the company, but health issues in recent years and a desire to spend more time outside of the office have shifted my focus. While I will no longer be a part of the day-to-day operations, I have full confidence in the leadership I have appointed to replace Dave and myself, and I look forward to seeing where the company will go from here.”
In light of these announcements, new leadership is emerging at Quantum. Angie Ostler, former Vice President of Finance, has been named President, overseeing the day-to-day operations with a focus on the company financials, and Derek Wheeler, former Vice President of Sales, has been named Executive Vice President, focusing on the Operations and Engineering processes within the company.
“While their titles are new, their commitment and roles within the company are not. Both Derek and Angie have spent the past few years shadowing Dave and myself learning the business at an Executive level and I trust they will take this company to great heights,” continued Pearse.
This transition has been a work-in-process over the past few years and required a great amount of teamwork amongst the entire leadership team. The pandemic, supply chain issues and the growing demand for skilled employees have affected the business, but Derek and Angie are ready to jump into these new roles and propel the company forward.”
Both Angie and Derek have extensive experience with Quantum Design. Angie has been employed by Quantum since 2008 starting in the office as an Administrative Assistant, working through Marketing and Finance roles, and participating on the company’s leadership team since 2019. Beyond her position within the company is her family tie to the business. Danny Pearse is Angie’s father and has been mentoring her for this role for the past decade.
Ostler says, “Quantum Design has been a part of my life since I was a young child. Though I didn’t always see myself ending up here, my experience over the past several years has created an appreciation for the business and it is important to me to keep this business growing. I am eager to move into this new role and start the next chapter.”
Derek Wheeler started his career at Quantum Design over 17 years ago as a Shipping & Receiving clerk. He has held roles in the manufacturing and sales departments and was the General Manager for the Centro-Metalcut and Quantum Roll Sheeter location for several years before moving to the current location. His most recent role has been Vice President of Sales overseeing sales activities for all of the Quantum Design product lines. Derek has also been a member of the leadership team since 2019 and has been working closely with Ostler, Pearse, and Culvey over the past year to make the changeover as smooth as possible.
“We have a great team here which makes the transition an easy move. I am excited to continue to grow with Quantum and be more involved with the manufacturing side of the business again” says Wheeler. Quantum Design is looking forward to many more years of success under the new leadership.
September 2020 – Quantum Design Will Demo at PackExpo Connects with 3 Product Lines; CTC, KTI, and Quantum Design Control Systems
Machesney Park, IL, September 2020 – Quantum Design, a Control Systems Integrator and owner of several equipment product lines serving the packaging industry, will participate in the PackExpo Connects virtual tradeshow in November 2020. Quantum Design has 4 demos planned during the event showcasing their Control Systems Integration services as well as converting equipment from the CTC and KTI product lines.
CTC alongside KTI, two well-known converting equipment product lines, will demo a Clamshell Lap Splicer in addition to their popular 800C Unwind Tension Compensator and Splicer Mechanisms. The Clamshell Splicer, designed specifically for the packaging industry, offers the flexibility and reliability needed for now and the future. This lap splicer model not only saves money but can save on time and raw materials as well. It’s easy to operate clamshell design features a convenient horizontal prep. Low roll loading height, a pneumatic brake system and adjustable tension control system with horizontal web festoon make this lap splicer user-friendly and efficient.
The Clamshell splicer works with a wide variety of materials and boasts speeds up to 600FPM. Newly designed PLC controls with HMI touch screen and minimal power requirements make this machine easy to integrate into existing packaging lines. Additional options including right or left configuration, various core shaft sizes and in-register splicing for pre-printed webs.
CTC will also demo the Unwind Tension Compensator, more widely known as the 800C, their number one selling product. The Unwind Tension Compensator is a basic mechanical servo mechanism for controlling unwind tension on rolls of film, foil, paper, tape, wire and similar materials. It can be used in any roll fed application which has moderate acceleration characteristics, does not require extremely low tension and does not have severe intermittent web dynamics.
The mechanism is comprised of a compensating brake and a pivoting, two roller sensing module. The sensing module is spring-loaded and connected to the compensating brake via a feedback cable and pulley system. When the sensing rollers change their position in response to changes in roll diameter, speed, acceleration, and brake coefficient of friction, the feedback cable adjusts the compensating brake to keep the system in equilibrium. The 800C supports web widths up to 20 inches, roll diameters up to 30 inches and line speeds up to 500FPM.
Finally, CTC will show how a Splicer Mechanism can be an economical alternative to buying a complete automatic splicer for both OEMs and end-users. Control program flowchart and schematics for operation are provided and several different models are offered.
Quantum Design Control Systems, another QDI product line, will showcase their control systems automation and design services. Visitors to Quantum Design Control Systems demo will learn about factory floor automation and how tying multiple pieces of factory equipment together can improve processes and provide valuable data. Quantum’s demo will highlight the company’s system integration capabilities through a graphical factory floor using Rockwell Automation’s Reviews SE showing conveyors, process lines, equipment and more.
In addition, Quantum Design Control Systems will provide an overview of the turnkey automation services they provide from engineering design to control panel build through commissioning.
To learn more about Quantum Design and all of its product lines visit www.quantumdi.com or visit our virtual showroom at www.pe.show/403 and attend PackExpo Connects.
September 1, 2020 – QUANTUM DESIGN AND HUNKELER AG AGREEMENT OFFERS GAME CHANGING SOLUTION TO NON-STOP PRODUCTION IN DIGITAL PRINTING
Machesney Park, Illinois (September 1, 2020) – Quantum Design, owner of the KTI product line, a world-class manufacturer of automatic splicers and turret rewinders, announced today an agreement with Hunkeler AG, a market leader in digital print finishing solutions based in Wikon, Switzerland. This agreement will make Quantum Design the exclusive supplier of automatic splicing and rewinding equipment for Hunkeler AG.
The partnership is a result of many months of hard work collaborating on a custom automatic splicing machine, the Hunkeler RS8 model, and an automatic turret rewinder, the Hunkeler TR8 model. These new models are already being sold by Hunkeler as part of a complete inline finishing system for the digital printing industry.
The technology that is central to this collaboration is a game changer for digital printing as Hunkeler will be offering the first inline finishing system with nonstop end to end processing in the industry. Hunkeler displayed the full solution at their in-house event, Innovationdays 2019, and had plans to showcase the equipment at DRUPA 2020 prior to the postponement of the event. The initial launch of these machines in 2019 was very successful. Over a dozen installations were completed and delivered to the United States, Germany, Italy, und UK in the first year.
The RS8 is a shaftless automatic butt splicer with two shaftless roll positions that feed a continuous supply of material into the press while the integrated storage festoon eliminates the need to stop for changing rolls. In-register splicing capabilities are available for running pre-printed material which can dramatically reduce waste in the press when re-registering.
The TR8 automatic turret rewinder is designed with two shafted roll positions to continuously rewind rolls directly from the press eliminating the need to stop the press to remove rolls and offering greater throughput. The integrated festoon takes up material from the press while the web is brought to a controlled stop for cutting and transferring to a new core.
Both machines feature touch screen PLC Controls and the quality construction for which KTI equipment is often recognized and that aligns equally with Hunkeler’s own equipment durability. Hunkeler and Quantum are currently in the design stages of a third model that will be released and sold as part of Hunkeler’s finishing line in 2021.
“Hunkeler has a long-standing reputation as being an industry driver for new technology and innovation” says Derek Wheeler, V.P. of Sales at Quantum Design Inc., “We are excited to create this partnership with Hunkeler to bring continuous process equipment to the digital marketplace. We are excited to see where future collaborations will take both companies.”
“Hunkeler continuously expands its portfolio with automation modules and features with our valued partners for the Digital Print Finishing Segment of the Graphic Arts Industry. With its KTI product line Quantum Design brings a tremendous amount of experience and technology into the partnership. However, automation is only the first step in the process to connect, integrate and create an end to end workflow for automated solutions from start to finish” says Hans Gut, VP of Marketing & Partnering.
June 25, 2018 – NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR QUANTUM DESIGN INC. SET FOR COMPLETION IN EARLY 2019
Loves Park, IL (June 25, 2018) – It was announced last week that Quantum Design, Incorporated has been recommended for approval by the village of Machesney Park’s Administration and Finance Committee for a development agreement to facilitate the company’s construction of a 100,000 square-foot headquarters building in the Park 90 Corporate Center in Machesney Park near the intersection of Interstate 39-90 and Route 173.
Quantum Design, Incorporated is a leader in the automation controls industry providing complete turnkey solutions from design engineering through control panel assembly to manufacturing industries. In addition to being a Control Systems Integrator, the company owns three additional product lines designing and fabricating equipment for a variety of industries including the web converting, printing, label and steel industries. Quantum’s new headquarters will unite their engineering and manufacturing divisions under one roof.
President Danny Pearse notes that Quantum Design’s progress is a result of our customer-driven success model. “Our new headquarters will provide greater efficiencies for our operations,” said Pearse, also noting that “Our company’s recent acquisitions of Centro-Metalcut, Keene Technology and Quantum Roll Sheeters have prompted the need for a larger building to accommodate our growth.”
The Rockford Area Development Council assisted Quantum in identifying a location that would work well for both employees and customers. Currently working out of 4 different locations in Loves Park, Rockford and South Beloit, Quantum Design recognized that a move was necessary in order to become more efficient and keep up with the current growth. However, retaining existing employees was equally important to Pearse. The location in Machesney Park was chosen for its’ centralized location and easy I90 access for current employees some who live as far South as Byron and others living as far North as Janesville, WI. “It’s important to me to retain the loyal and hardworking employees we have worked hard to find and train, some who have been with us since the beginning and others who have joined our team through the years”, says Pearse, “Our employees are ultimately what drives our success.”
Quantum Design’s roots lies with their Control Systems Integration division, which was how the company began in 1986 and what ties all of their product lines together. Pearse added “Many of our current and potential customers are located in larger metropolitan areas in the Midwest, so it was important to keep easy I90 access for those customers to come visit when needed.”
Quantum is excited to move forward on this project, working with LandMark Development and hopes to break ground in July. If the project stays on track, they will move their 90+ employees and all production to the new building in early 2019.
For more information on Quantum Design or any of its product lines, please visit www.quantumdi.com.