Kurt Hochrein, the robotics executive who worked with 20th Century Fox to place Kawasaki Robots in the Steven Spielberg movie Minority Report, has been named Director of Customer Development for Dexter Research Center, Inc. Dexter Research is an industry leader in the innovative design and the volume manufacture of high quality, high output bismuth-antimony thin film and silicon-based radiation sensing thermopile detectors.

“More important than helping to advance Tom Cruise’s career, Kurt brings his knowledge of electronic, mechanical and software innovation collaboration to one of the most exciting technology enablers in the American economy,” said Robert Toth, Jr, president of Dexter Research.

Previously Mr. Hochrein, an industry sales leader in robotics who developed accounts at Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Ford, also launched successful customer collaboration centers across the US and in Canada and Mexico. Mr. Hochrein holds a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and also has energy industry experience.

“I am delighted once again to be leading such an important innovation center,” Mr. Hochrein said. “Dexter Research is already making our troops and pilots safer in oversea combat. We play a key role at exhaust emission testing centers, in greenhouse gardening and airplanes, in kitchen appliances and steel factories, ear thermometers and mine safety, weather forecasting and earth measurement. And we’re making important contributions to the Mars missions.

“But equally important, I believe that you will soon see Dexter Research detectors providing important foundations to industrial and residential control of greenhouse gases. We are also positioned to make important technology transfers to home fire safety, intruder security, and foreign-sourced energy reduction. No wonder our sales are up thirty-four percent in Q1 of this year,” Mr. Hochrein said.