About me (Paul W Kraemer)

I am Paul W Kraemer of Kraemer Koating. Many know me as Paul Jr, as it was my father, Paul L Kraemer (or Paul Sr) who started Kraemer Koating in 1985. I joined the company in 1991. My primary role has always been in the design and implementation of our control systems, but I also play the role of web designer in my spare time. With spare time being hard to find, I had not updated our website since 2004. As I write this in June, 2022, I find it necessary to announce some recent developments that affect our capabilities and the services we are able to offer.

Recent Developments at Kraemer Koating

Kraemer Koating has been designing and manufacturing custom narrow web roll-to-roll web coating and web handling equipment since 1985. Our equipment is in use throughout the world in the pharmaceutical, battery, membrane, converting, specialty label, and other industries. While we still support our existing equipment with the same level of committment we have always had, we have recently undergone some changes that currently make us unable to manufacture new equipment in house.

The last new machine we manufactured was delivered at the end of 2020 and commissioned in early 2021. This came at the end of a two year period in which our workload was nearly more than we could handle. As has been the case more than once in our history, this resulted in us devoting all of our time and resources into satifying current obligations while neglecting sales. We found ourselves in a position where we had no promising leads for future equipment orders. Finally able to take a breath after a grueling couple years and a long career, Demetri Regas, an essential team member since the day Kraemer Koating was started, decided it was time for him to transition into retirement. I was fortunate at the time to have had some service opportunites I could handle without assistance, so I focused on those while Demetri did everything he could to help us prepare for a future without him as a full-time employee. While this was taking place, it became apparent that while I had all the work I could personally handle, the overhead of keeping our machine shop and assembly area operational while it was not being utilized had me on an unsustainable financial path as no new equipment orders materialized. At this time, our machine shop and assembly staff consisted of one person, Ed Traynor. Ed had been with us for many years and was another essential member of our team. Unfortunately, I just didn't have any work for him at the time. Luckily, Ed was able to take an opportunity working for our sister company, Luminer Converting Group, with which we have shared a building for over 30 years. Shortly after Ed's transition to working for Luminer, I gave up my machine shop space to Luminer to reduce my overhead.

What I am doing now

After the developments explained above, I am now Kraemer Koating's only full-time employee involved in the support of our equipment. I no longer have in-house manufacturing capability. I have not been actively marketing new equipment as I do not presently have the capability to build new equipment. I have continued to support our existing equipment and have every intention to continue doing so. When the required support is control system, automation, or information technology related, I can generally field all questions and implement corrective actions (when necessary) with minimal assistance. For questions that are mechanical in nature, I usually consult with Demetri, who has been providing me with great support even in retirement. When it is determined that mechanical work is required, I seek the help of outside contractors or the mechanical service staff of our customers.

Without the time demand of designing and building new equipment, I have been able to make my services available for projects unrelated to Kraemer Koating equipment on a consulting basis. The services I have provided have included support for equipment by other manufacturers as well as programming and information technology support for business systems that are not equipment related. At this point, most of this work has been for Luminer. This has worked out well as we share the same building, and I am able to get Ed's assistance when mechanical work is required.

Moving forward

At Kraemer Koating, we have always taken pride in forming a working partnership with our customers that does not end after we deliver a machine. Following initial installation and startup of our equipment, we have welcomed opportunities to assist with process and product development, the selection and integration of supporting equipment, the navigation of regulatory requirements, and anything else we can help with. Regardless of the endeavor, our goal has always been to enable our customers to make their products safely, efficiently, and profitably. This has allowed us to build enduring relationships that we value greatly. While our business and capabilities have changed, I look forward to continuing these relationships long into the future.

I don't rule out the possibility of once again becoming involved in the manufacture of new equipment and continuing the Kraemer Koating brand. For this to be possible, I would have to partner with an outside firm for fabrication and assembly. I have not actively sought out such a partner, as I have not recently received any serious requests for new equipment. If this were to happen, the ideal circumstance would be if I was approached about supplying a modernized "remake" of one of our previous designs. I believe the highest likelihood for this would be from an existing customer who has one of our machines and is approaching a point where production capacity is no longer sufficient to meet demand. In situations like this in regulated industries, it is often advantageous for new equipment to be "like-for-like" with existing equipment to whatever extent is possible. If such an opportunity arose, I would be willing to share our designs and experience with a manufacturing partner if we can arrive at mutually beneficial terms.

Regardless of whether such an opportunity arises, I will continue to support our existing equipment as I always have. Please feel free to contact me about any challenge you face related to our equipment. I will do my best to come up with a solution, even if I have to enlist some outside help.

Sincerely,
Paul W Kraemer