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ASTROTECH'S 1ST DETECT APPOINTS SEASONED INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE BOB KIBLER AS CEO

Austin, TX (December 4, 2014) - 

1st Detect, a subsidiary of Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC), has announced today that it has hired Mr. Bob C. Kibler as its new CEO.

1st Detect’s goal is to guide its R&D efforts in a sales driven atmosphere in order to penetrate our identified markets in a timely manner. Mr. Kibler, brings a wealth of management experience in sales, program and product development, marketing and product management with Bruker Daltonic, Griffin Analytical, and Inficon and has over 35 years of experience in the instrumentation industry. Mr. Kibler is also Chairman and President of the Gulf Coast Conference, the world’s largest conference in chemical analysis in the petrochemical, refining and oil & gas industry, where he has established deep-seated industry relationships. Mr. Kibler has made a career of managing the introduction of new products to the marketplace and developing those products into category leaders. Mr. Kibler has a strong chemistry, petrochemical, biology and pharmaceutical sales background, bringing both knowledge and experience to the company’s ranks. This new addition to an already seasoned management team will further position 1st Detect’s factory floor market initiative.

 

“We are very pleased to have Bob join our team with his extensive experience,” said Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman and CEO of Astrotech. “Bob brings over 35 years of mass spectrometer sales experience, contacts and industry knowledge to 1st Detect at this very critical time. We have completed development of a commercial product that has received UL and CE certification and it is now time to concentrate on sales. I am very excited to have a very experienced executive lead our team to success over the coming years.”

 

1st Detect has developed an instrument that revolutionizes the chemical detection and analysis market by delivering laboratory performance mass spectrometry in a small, affordable and portable package. The 1st Detect mass spectrometer is capable of detecting a wide variety of chemicals including residues and vapors from explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals, food and beverage contaminants, and pollutants. These capabilities make it an ideal tool for a variety of applications in the research, security, industrial, process flow and healthcare markets.

 

1st Detect has also identified and is marketing Process Analytical Chemistry / Process Analytical Technology (PAC/PAT) solutions to food and beverage, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and semiconductor manufacturing customers. We are leveraging our groundbreaking mass spectrometry technology to provide unique solutions for the PAC/PAT needs of multiple customers.

 

About 1st Detect Corporation


1st Detect Corporation was formed by Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq:ASTC) to develop and commercialize miniature mass spectrometry technology first developed under an agreement with NASA for use on the International Space Station. 1st Detect offers a breakthrough miniaturized mass spectrometer that fills an unmet need by being highly accurate, rapid, lightweight, and cost-effective. For more information on 1st Detect Corporation, please visit www.1stDetect.com.

 

About Astrotech Corporation


Astrotech is a leader in identifying and commercializing space technology for terrestrial use. 1st Detect Corporation is developing what we believe is a breakthrough miniaturized mass spectrometer, the MMS-1000™, while Astrogenetix, Inc. is a biotechnology company utilizing microgravity as a research platform for drug discovery and development. Astral Images provides an advanced film scanning and digital defect removal solution. All are wholly owned subsidiaries of the parent.

 

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, continued government support and funding for key space programs, product performance and market acceptance of products and services, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the annual report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

 

Joshua Elbaum
VP, Marketing
+1 (512) 485-9530

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