About Advanced Material Processing (AMP)

AMP is a newer platform company for May River Capital (May River), a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on lower middle market industrial growth companies. Focusing on material processing, AMP combines industry leading, complementary material processing equipment manufacturers to advance engineering capabilities for customers. AMP focuses on sectors like food and beverage, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and chemical, as well as emerging markets like cannabis.

Recent News

Marion Process Solutions Announces Updated Website New Business Partner Announcement / Nouveau Partenaire Commercial AMP, Marion, and Kason Announce Unified Management Team

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The two companies that make up AMP are Kason Corporation and Marion Process Solutions. Headquartered in Milburn, NJ, Kason has nearly 50 years of experience designing and manufacturing screening, drying, cooling and processing equipment. The company serves a range of industries including food, pharmaceutical, chemical, plastic, energy, minerals, aerospace and defense. Marion Process Solutions, an 80-year-old company based in Marion, IA, custom manufactures processing solutions with industrial mixers and blenders, as well as microwave vacuum drying systems. Marion focuses on food, nutraceutical, mineral, plastic, chemical and biomass industries.

May River Capital is a Chicago-based private-equity firm focused on investing in lower middle-market industrial growth companies. May River invests in high-quality industrial growth businesses, including precision manufacturing, engineered products, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution businesses.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Brad Sterner

Executive Chairman, Advanced Material Processing

Former operating executive at Colfax, Rexnord, IDEX, Danaher and Emerson, Brad specializes in high value manufacturing and engineered products. He has extensive operations and M&A experience and is the current CEO of Hunt Valve, Executive Chairman and Board Member of Advanced Material Processing, and Executive Chairman and Board Member of Industrial Flow Solutions.

Seth Vance

President & Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Material Processing

Throughout his career, Seth has focused on industrial growth businesses. He first joined AMP as the President of Kason Corporation before moving into his current role at AMP. Seth joined AMP from Timber Automation, a private equity-backed manufacturer of custom sawmill equipment, control systems and optimization technology, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. Previously, he held various leadership roles at Danaher Corporation focused on growth through commercial excellence, new product development, digital marketing, and market adjacencies. Seth received his MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Brigham Young University.

Pat McGowan

Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, Advanced Material Processing

Pat joined AMP as Chief Financial Officer in January 2021. Prior to joining AMP, he spent 12 years as an industrial finance executive at General Electric (GE) and Wabtec Corporation. His time at GE included a stint on the GE Corporate Audit Staff followed by roles as a product line CFO, a supply chain CFO and finance integration leader with GE Transportation. Pat received his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

Matt Banowetz

Senior VP Engineering & Operations, Advanced Material Processing

Matt has a relentless passion for product development, engineering, and operational excellence. He joined Amp from Marion Process Solutions, a private equity-backed manufacturer of custom mixing equipment and integrated systems, where he served as the Senior Vice President of Engineering and Production Services. Previously he held various leadership roles at ESP International focused on engineering, quality, product development and operations. Matt received his MBA from the Tippie School of Business at the University of Iowa and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa.

Lance Briggs

VP of Sales and Business Development

Lance brings a strong background of providing solutions, leadership, process implementation, and driving commercial excellence in the overall customer experience. Following his education in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at University of Missouri in Columbia, he began his career as an operations focused product engineer and manager, until he was introduced to the world of technical sales by taking on a position as an Application Engineer for Paul Mueller Company. Falling in love with the process of bringing creative solutions to constantly varying customer challenges, he advanced his career into Business Management and then Global Sales Management for the Heat Transfer divisions of Paul Mueller Company. Lance then came to the AMP team leading the Kason sales effort as Director of Sales, before moving on to lead the commercial efforts for North America across AMP's complete solution platform.

Antoine Lecomte

VP of Sales and Business Development Europe

Antoine joined the AMP team early April 2021 as the Vice President of Sales and Business Development Europe. Prior to joining AMP, he spent 10 years in several international sales and business development roles in the Energy, Engineering and Material Processing equipment sectors, promoting efficient marketing, business development and sales strategies. He strives to foster a creative, engaging, and structured work environment. Antoine holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the ENIM School in France together with an international MBA from the IAE School of Management in Lyon, France, focusing on leading international teams.