KANSAS CITY, MO. — CRB appointed Jim Vortherms to senior director of automation delivery and Jerry Steenhoek to senior director of automation technology to its Food & Beverage (F&B) segment on Aug. 4. In their new roles, Vortherms and Steenhoek will enhance CRB’s capabilities by using their combined expertise in automation.

According to CRB, the new personnel reaffirm the company’s focus on supporting its customers through data management and helping them address labor, productivity, product safety, capacity and regulatory challenges.

Vortherms has extensive experience in project management, standards development, process systems design, and product design and development. Prior to CRB, he focused on various industrial projects, both domestic and international, for the oilseed processing, feed and flour milling, sugar production, vegetable and corn oil extraction/refining, chemical processing, ethanol and biodiesel production, and pet food manufacturing industries.

Steenhoek has nearly 30 years of experience in process systems design, OT networks and cybersecurity. He has extensive experience in development and systems integration, product innovation and R&D throughout a variety of project phases, including high-level and detail design, development, commissioning and start-up.

Vortherms and Steenhoek will aid CRB’s F&B projects, specifically focusing on agricultural, chemical processing, and life sciences.

“From increasing throughput to identifying new efficiencies, clients are on the hunt for automation solutions that bring their products to market quickly and safely,” said Jason Robertson, vice president of F&B at CRB. “Jim and Jerry’s combined expertise will be invaluable to our clients across virtually all facets of their projects.”

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.