John Hrdlick, George Polasik Assume New Roles at INX International

INX International Ink Co. announced two important appointments involving long-time organizational veterans. John Hrdlick was promoted to chief operating officer, as George Polasik continues transitioning his operational management responsibilities and now begins his role as senior consultant.

“George and John are two titans in the industry and we’re fortunate to have them working at INX International,” said Rick Clendenning, president and CEO. “George gradually eased back on the reins a little more than a year ago when John took over as chief operating officer of our Liquid and Metal divisions. I’m very confident that as our new COO, John will lead us forward in his new position.

“As senior consultant, George will continue to support John and our manufacturing facilities with various initiatives and projects. Although George resigned his Board of Director position as of April 1, I don’t expect him to slow down too much. He will be providing us with advice on any new large manufacturing equipment purchases and building projects.”

Mr. Polasik began his 45-year career in the ink industry in 1965. He worked for a year, and then served in the U.S. Army for two years before returning to Fred’K H. Levey Co. in Chicago. After moving to Kohl & Madden Printing Ink to work in their new Research & Development laboratory, where he developed the Work & Turn sheetfed series, heat transfer and black illusion inks, George joined CPS Corp. in Dunkirk, NY, as technical director in 1982. He added director of technical operations to his title in 1986.

Mr. Polasik became part of the INX International family during his time at CPS. Promoted to a vice president position in 1990, two years later he was named executive vice president and was honored by the industry with a National Association Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM) Printing Ink Pioneer award in 1996. In 1999, he became president of CPS, INX vice president of web operations and joined the INX Board of Directors. Since 2005, he has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Mr. Hrdlick has spent his entire 35-year career connected to INX. He was hired in 1977 and worked the third shift at Acme Printing, which later became part of INX International when it was one of the first North American acquisitions made by Sakata INX. He learned the business from the ground up, transferring from the laboratory in Milwaukee to Charlotte, and later to South Hampton, PA.

It was in Pennsylvania where Mr. Hrdlick first became a branch manager in the early 1990s. In 1995, he was promoted to Southeast region manager before being named vice president for the same region a year later. Another promotion occurred in 1999, this time as vice president of the Sheetfed division, before he was transferred to INX headquarters in suburban Chicago in 2000.

In the last decade, Mr. Hrdlick has continued to be successful with each new challenge. Selected as vice president of the Field Operations division in 2002, he joined the INX Board of Directors in 2008, and was elevated to senior vice president of field operations a year later. In 2010, he was tasked with the responsibility of overseeing INX operations at the Montreal facility. In January 2011, Mr. Hrdlick became senior vice president/chief operating officer.