CHICAGO, June 30, 2023 – Orion Industries, Ltd. (Orion) and Dimension Bond, Inc. (DB), leaders in the applied functional coatings industry, today announced the retirement of George Osterhout, the esteemed president and visionary leader of Orion and DB, and its sister company Surface Solutions Group, LLC (SSG), and the appointment of Kevin Hess as the new president of the three companies.
Osterhout retires following 25 years of dedicated service to the companies and 48 years in the functional coatings industry, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of innovation, expansion, and success. Osterhout was instrumental in taking Orion and DB to new heights, expanding strategic partnerships with customers and suppliers, and driving continuous growth. Under his leadership, Orion and DB achieved AS9100D with ISO 9001 certification and ITAR registration, and solidified themselves as respected leading industrial coatings partners for companies worldwide. During his tenure, Osterhout played a pivotal role in the formation of SSG to focus exclusively on serving the medical device market.
“George had a unique talent in creating a cohesive team, which contributed to the technical and financial growth of all the companies,” remarked Bruce Nesbitt, the companies’ founder and chief technology officer.
While the companies bid farewell to Osterhout, he will continue to contribute his talents and industry knowledge to Orion’s and DB’s future success in the role of Senior Advisor. As a trusted resource, Osterhout will share invaluable insights, wisdom, and experience to ensure a seamless transition. “I will continue to represent Orion and DB in the industry and provide support to our customers, suppliers and employees,” he said.
The companies are excited to welcome Kevin Hess as the new president of Orion, DB and SSG. “Kevin brings impressive design engineering and functional coatings experience to the companies, and has been an integral part of our leadership team for nearly five years as vice president,” said Osterhout. Hess earned his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
With his strategic vision, 20 years of industry knowledge and proven leadership skills, Hess is poised to build upon the strong foundation laid by Osterhout and lead Orion and DB into the next phase of innovation, growth and success. “With Kevin at the helm, the companies will ensure continued technical excellence and growth,” said Nesbitt.
“We are deeply grateful to George for his distinguished contributions and tireless efforts over the years in shaping the companies’ success stories,” said Hess. “As we embark on this transition, I want to assure our valued customers that our commitment to delivering superior coating technologies, unparalleled delivery, exceptional customer support and continued innovation remains unwavering. We are equally committed to continuing our collaborative relationships with our dedicated suppliers and employees,” he added.
The promotion of Hess ensures continuity, stability and ongoing dedication to providing industrial functional coating solutions. “We are confident that under Kevin’s leadership and guidance, Orion and DB will continue to grow and deliver outstanding results,” said Osterhout.
About Orion Industries, Ltd. and Dimension Bond, Inc.
Orion Industries and Dimension Bond are dedicated to providing proven industrial functional coating technologies and solutions for companies worldwide. With 60 years of experience, Orion’s and DB’s extensive automation and expansive facilities provides their customers with consistently applied coatings that meet or exceed their customers’ demanding performance and delivery requirements. Orion and DB serve large OEMs and their contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and R&D startups in a wide variety of market segments. Orion and DB are wholly owned by the Elektrisola group, a privately held company with 19 production plants and 4,700 employees worldwide.
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Media Contact:
Patty Martucci
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pmartucci@orioncoat.com
773-282-9100