SMS Demag announced that Dr. Joachim Schönbeck (40) has been named Chairman of SMS Meer GmbH. He assumes the chairmanship from Dr. Helmut Fricke when he retires on January 1, 2005.

Dr. Schönbeck was also appointed to the management of SMS GmbH, the holding of the SMS Group, on Oct. 1, 2004. He is responsible for the entire Tube, Section and Forging Technology business area, including SMS Meer, SMS Eumuco and SMS Elotherm.

Dr. Schönbeck had previously served as a Division Head for SMS Demag AG.

The SMS group is internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering relating to the processing of steel, non-ferrous metals and plastics. The group is divided into the Business Areas of Metallurgical Plant and Rolling Mill Technology, Tube, Long Product and Forging Technology and Plastics Technology. In the year 2003 around 9500 employees worldwide generated a turnover of around EUR 2.20 billion.