General Kinematics, Crystal Lake, IL, realigned its executive team to position the vibratory equipment manufacturer for accelerated growth. Tom Musschoot, who has been president of the company since 2015, is now the chief executive officer. He becomes the third generation of his family to lead the company, as his father Paul Musschoot becomes the company’s chairman of the board.
“GK is a part of my family,” the new CEO offered. “This promotion is a goal that I’ve been working towards since the early stages of my career. Achieving this goal, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on my journey to this point. I would like to thank my father for providing me with knowledge and experience, as well as sparking my passion for the engineering and problem-solving that lies at the core of our business.”
As noted in the company’s announcement, General Kinematics has grown significantly over the past five years, becoming a family of brands that collectively service the foundry, recycling, and mining markets. During that time, the acquisitions of Cyrus Vibrating Equipment and Tuffman Recycling Equipment were completed.
A third acquisition – of Foundry Equipment Company (FECo) – has been the foundation of GK Systems, a turnkey engineering and systems business. Now, with an order backlog that runs through 2026, General Kinematics has added new operational leadership.
Ray Deeter, formerly the director of Operations at Badger Meter, Racine, WI, has joined General Kinematics as chief operating officer, responsibility over production, purchasing, and engineering. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology and Operations Management and an MBA from Northwestern University, and formerly served in the U.S. Air Force as Sergeant, Weapons Maintenance Team Leader.
“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of the GK team,” Deeter commented. “I look forward to helping the company build upon the culture of continuous improvement that is required to deliver the level of excellence that our customers have experienced for over 60 years.”