Engel Machinery's Paul Caprio steps down as president

Paul Caprio has left York, Pa.-based Engel Machinery Inc., where he had been president since January 2020 following a 25-year stint at Krauss-Maffei Corp.

Caprio had been managing the sales and service subsidiary of the North American operation of Austria-based injection molding machinery maker Engel Holding GmbH with CEO Mark Sankovitch.

The veteran plastics industry executives planned to work together for two years and then Sankovitch was going to retire at the end of 2021.

However, the plan changed.

A new board has been appointed to lead North American operations under the direction of Sankovitch, a 15-year Engel veteran, according to a Feb. 2 news release. The release says Engel North America is preparing for the future with new managers aligned for a thriving market.

"Paul Caprio has left Engel North America effective January 31st, 2022. The company is grateful for the role he has played in the last two years," the last line of the release says, providing no other information about his departure.

Sankovitch is staying on until Dec. 31, 2022, an Engel spokesperson said in an email.

The other management in North America is made up of: Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Malena, who will lead after sales service, automation and engineering; Chief Sales Officer Benjamin Lettner, who is responsible for sales, marketing and application engineering; and Chief Financial Officer Johann Dastl, who continues to manage finance, human resources and information technology.

"We promoted from within," Sankovitch said in the release. "Engel North America focuses on developing employee talent — from our successful apprentice program up through the ranks. This team of talent is ready to work long into the future for many years to come supporting our customers with effective decision making and drive."

Caprio could not be reached for comment.

When he took the Engel job after 25 years with Krauss-Maffei, including the last 10 years as president, he predicted a smooth transition. Caprio said at the time he was impressed with the way Engel's global management team took care of customers and day-to-day challenges in the marketplace.

Engel also is shaking up its senior leadership in Europe with two new executive appointments. Gerhard Dimmler, previously vice president of research and development, is chief technology officer effective Feb. 1. He is taking over the development division from CEO Stefan Engleder.

In addition, Engel has named Simon Zeilberger as the new commercial director, effective April 1. He succeeds CFO Markus Richter, who is leaving the company at his own request at the end of March, the end of the current fiscal year.