OYSTAR GmbH has restructured, creating OYSTAR North America. The new company combines OYSTAR USA, a NJ-based sales operation representing packaging machinery brands manufactured in Europe, as well as packaging equipment manufacturers OYSTAR Packaging Technologies, Davenport, IA; and OYSTAR Jones, Covington, KY.

“We began restructuring one and a half years ago,” said Tom Graf, OYSTAR’s chief executive officer. “From the onset it was our goal to centrally manage individual product and customer groups, and no longer through several subsidiaries. The past financial year clearly shows that this was the right path.”

Barry Shoulders, president of OYSTAR Packaging Technologies, will lead OYSTAR North America. “All of us at OYSTAR North America are excited by this new customer-focused structure that will translate into more complete packaging solutions and stronger partnerships with both customers and vendors,” Mr. Shoulders said.

Other senior management roles within the new company include: Tom Riggins, sales, Gordon Bonfield, transition officer, Jeff Wierenga, service, and Susan Awadalla, finance. Also, Charles Ravalli, current president of OYSTAR USA, will continue in his role. Gordon Bonfield, president of OYSTAR Jones, will oversee the process of combining the three companies into one North American operation.