Hongju Chang
CEO
Hongju Chang founded Admat in 1997. He has over 25 years of valuable experience working with tantalum and niobium metals and has made exceptional contributions to the technologies used in this industry.
Prior to starting Admat Inc., Hongju was the R&D Manager at Cabot Supermetals in Boyertown, PA. In this role, he developed technologies and processes that yielded four US Patents and many publications. These included two patents defining processes for improved control on size distribution in tantalum powders and one which states the process for improving high capacitance tantalum powder by reducing electrical leakage.
Prior to Cabot, Hongju worked at Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals as a Scientist. His experience is backed up with a PhD. in Chemical Engineering.
By utilizing his expertise in refractory metals, Admat has a distinct advantage. One such example is in our qualification process of new vendors and suppliers. Hongju’s understanding of the manufacturing process allows Admat to ensure our customers that Admat’s sources are quality producers.
Eric von Spreckelsen
Director of Sales
Eric von Spreckelsen joined Admat in 2009 and brings with him an extensive background in technical sales, marketing and customer service management. He is recognized by his many loyal customers as a team player and dynamic leader who wins the respect of others through his integrity and unwavering desire to negotiate in good faith to find win-win solutions.
Prior to joining Admat, Eric was the Sales Manager for Cabot Supermetals. In this role, he was responsible for Tantalum and Niobium Mill Products sales in the US, Europe and Asia. During his 10+ years at Cabot, Eric was the lead inventor of US Patent: 7,228,722 – Method of forming sputtering articles by multidirectional deformation. Prior to Cabot, Eric developed his sales skills selling industrial process heating systems for Power Modules Inc.
He holds a BS in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing, from Thomas A Edison State College, in Trenton, New Jersey.
In his off time, Eric enjoys hunting, fishing and attending his son’s Little League games. Eric is happily married to his wife Kathy and has one son, Nicholas.
Bob Balliett
Technical Metallurgical Consultant
Mr. Robert W. Balliett is a consultant providing technical support to the metals industry. He is an experienced operations and technology manager with extensive experience in product and process development. Mr. Balliett has expertise in the refractory metals including powder fabrication, vacuum metallurgy, vacuum melting, casting, forging, extrusion, rolling, lubrication, fabrication, and wire drawing. He has metallurgical operations experience with a variety of specialty high value metals including aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, niobium, tantalum, molybdenum and the precious metals serving the microelectronic component, semiconductor, chemicals, medical equipment, military, coatings, power, and aerospace industries.
Prior to establishing his consulting practice in early 2005, Balliett worked at the H.C. Starck tantalum facility in Newton Massachusetts (1984 to 2005) as the Niobium Product Manager, Metallurgical R&D Manager, and Manager of Wire Manufacturing and Technology. He served as Technical Director for the Phelps Dodge Corporation prior to that assignment.
Balliett is a registered professional engineer. He has been awarded 11 primary US patents and has authored more than 30 technical papers and publications. He is active in the TMS, ASM, STLE and SME professional organizations.