CHICAGO, June 30, 2023 – Surface Solutions Group, LLC (SSG), a leader in the applied medical device functional coatings industry, today announced the retirement of George Osterhout, the esteemed president and visionary leader of SSG and its sister companies Orion Industries, Ltd. (Orion) and Dimension Bond, Inc. (DB), 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. During his tenure, Osterhout played a pivotal role in the formation of SSG to focus exclusively on serving the medical device market. He was instrumental in taking SSG to new heights, fostering strategic partnerships with customers and suppliers, and driving continuous growth. Under his leadership, SSG achieved ISO 13485 certification, implemented ultra-accurate automation and established itself as a respected leading coatings partner for the global medical device industry.
“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 company bids farewell to Osterhout, he will continue to contribute his talents and industry knowledge to SSG’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 SSG in the industry and provide support to our customers, suppliers and employees,” he said.
The company is excited to welcome Kevin Hess as the new president of SSG, Orion and DB. “Kevin brings impressive experience in the functional coatings and medical device industry 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 SSG 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 the medical device industry’s functional coating needs. “We are confident that under Kevin’s leadership and guidance, SSG will continue to grow and deliver outstanding results,” said Osterhout.
About Surface Solutions Group, LLC
Surface Solutions Group is dedicated to providing proven coating technologies and solutions for the global medical device industry, and offers 13 categories of functional coatings. With 60 years of coating industry experience, SSG’s extensive automation and state-of-the-art facility provides its customers with consistently applied coatings on medical devices, and meets or exceeds its customers’ demanding performance and delivery requirements. SSG serves large medical device and component OEMs and their contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and R&D startups primarily in the cardiovascular, neurovascular, peripheral vascular, orthopedic, surgical, spine, and dental segments. SSG is wholly owned by the Elektrisola group, a privately held company with 19 production plants and 4,700 employees worldwide.
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