International Surface Preparation Corp. (ISPC)

International Surface Preparation Corp. (ISPC), a newly formed company, has completed its acquisition of United States Filter Corp.'s Surface Preparation Group. The Surface Preparation Group is a leading provider of surface preparation equipment, parts and consumables. ISPC has manufacturing and distribution facilities in 15 countries, primarily in Europe and North America. The company, which employs 1,900 people worldwide, is privately owned by an investment group led by Bard & Co. Inc. of Evergreen, Colo.

The Surface Preparation Group has roots reaching back some 100 years with leading brand names in the global surface preparation industry, including Wheelabrator, Blastrac, Schmidt, Sawtec, and others.

Robert E. Joyce, a former executive vice president of US Filter who is currently serving as the Surface Preparation Group's president and chief operating officer, will be joining ISPC as its new president and COO. Also joining the Denver-based ISPC team, as CFO, is Mark Iwan, former audit practice head of Arthur Andersen's Denver offices, and Marsha Williams, formerly of Graphic Packaging Corp. Williams will be HR senior manager.