New Era Converting Machinery has hired Jay W. Roth as senior sales and development engineer and has promoted Ed Schwartz to technical service manager. 
 
With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Roth combines sales and leadership know-how with an engineering perspective. In his new role, he will evaluate customers’ production equipment and processes to offer a fully integrated approach to machinery and production issues and identify potential automation applications. He will address customer productivity, quality control, efficiency and workplace safety concerns.
 
Roth earned degrees from The Pennsylvania State University in electrical and mechanical engineering technology and a bachelor’s degree from Drexel University. He joined New Era as a full-time machine shop employee while attending Penn State at night to obtain his degrees. Moving to the engineering department, he spent more than 10 years as a machine designer before growing into a sales role. He has been active with INDA, The Association for the Nonwovens Industry, serving on the WOW! (World of Wipes) planning committee.
 
Meanwhile, Schwartz is being promoted from his current role as controls engineering manager. He brings over 30 years of controls engineering and 25 years of converting industry experience and has programmed and commissioned dozens of converting lines worldwide. Besides being an accomplished PLC and drives programmer, he has spent time in project management and sales.