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Frank Koch, president and founder of DeFelsko Corp., died Aug. 8, at the age of 77.
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| Frank Koch |
Mr. Koch died peacefully in a hospital, with loved ones at his side, his family said.
Born and reared in Germany, Mr. Koch was formally trained as a tool and die maker before he emigrated to North America in 1956.
In the 1960s, Mr. Koch’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to Ogdensburg, N.Y., where he started several businesses, including DeFelsko Corp.
His company said in a statement, “It was his involvement with coating thickness and test instruments that most defined his career.”
In the 1960s, DeFelsko began importing and selling inspection instruments from Germany. Soon after, the company entered the business of manufacturing instruments itself with the PosiTest mechanical pull-off gage, and continued its expansion with the PosiTector series of inspection instruments.
Mr. Koch’s intelligence, dedication, outgoing personality, and tireless work ethic influenced the products he made and the business relationships he developed, the company said.
“He forged relationships based on handshakes and on the strength of his character,” the company said in an announcement on his passing.
Under his leadership, the company has pioneered a number of technologies, including hand-held ultrasonic coating thickness gages, auto-switching ferrous/non-ferrous coating thickness gages, and self-aligning adhesion testers.
The company announced that Mr. Koch’s son-in-law, David Beamish, has assumed direction of the company as president. Linda Koch Beamish, Mr. Koch’s daughter, remains vice president.
“Both David and Linda had the privilege of working with Frank for almost 25 years and together with the entire DeFelsko family are committed to carrying his legacy forward,” the company said.
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