PaneraTech SmartMelter has appointed Fred Aker as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Fred will join PaneraTech on July 1 after 34 years working at German engineering company Sorg.

Fred (pictured) has progressed in his career at Sorg from an original IT role to his current position as Sales Director.

In his role at Sorg, Fred is responsible for one of two sales teams which, through a combination of key accounts and different regions, spanned the globe.

This included Russia, the Middle East, North and South America as well numerous key accounts. Here he was at home working together with tightly held companies such as Gallo Glass and FEVISA, through global players such as ABInBev and O-I.

In his first encounter with the SmartMelter team, Fred was impressed with what SmartMelter could deliver to customers.

“I was impressed with what a young, passionate and overachieving team of engineers have accomplished by solving one of the most challenging problems the industry has faced for many decades.

“What amazed me was how quickly they transformed this technology into a global operations where within two and a half years of its release, they have serviced customers in 40 countries.“

Fred continued: “What truly excites me is SmartMelter’s vision to offer full furnace health management solution that takes away the worry of maintaining and managing the risk of furnaces from glass customers, and let them enjoy longer and, lower cost and safer operation of their furnaces.”

Fred’s excitement was reflected by PaneraTech’s CEO, Dr. Yakup Bayram, who said: “Among many wonderful people I have met in the glass industry, Fred stood out as one of the finest with a deep knowledge of furnaces and the industry.

“As we are transitioning from technology provider to a full service furnace health management organisation with offices globally, I am confident Fred will not only leave his mark in our organisation, but also within the glass industry in many years to come.”

Fred’s hobbies, include travel, reading and almost daily walks with wife Annette.

Fred is also a technology (gadgets) fan, a connection to his IT days, and is excited to be among a high-tech team at SmartMelter to build and shape the future.