Swagelok Co. has announced that David Hester has been named general manager for Swagelok Ltd’s Isle of Man operation. In this role, Mr Hester is responsible for the daily operations and continuous improvement of the facility. The manufacturing operations at Swagelok Ltd help to complete the company’s piping and regulator product offering for the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries. From the Isle of Man, Swagelok also serves local niche markets that require quick turn-around on high added value and specialised products. Mr Hester joined Swagelok Ltd as engineering manager in 2006 and has been instrumental in aligning and managing quality and process improvement initiatives. In the last three years, he has also played a critical role in developing the facility’s current manufacturing model while supporting key customer activity.