Apr 09, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Bob Kearney has joined Klass Associates Inc. as a Senior Associate. Bob specializes in starch and starch applications for the paper industry. His strengths are problem solving, size press applications, starch in coating formulas and the use of starch at the wet end of the paper machine, company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. Ron Eklund has joined Klass Associates Inc. as a Senior Associate. Ron specializes in barrier coatings, papermaking process, wet end systems, metering size presses, pigmented coating, calendering, product development, printing, capital projects and paper machine start-ups. Klass Associates Inc. is a consulting firm specializing in commercialization of innovative technology and productivity/cost/quality improvement in the pulp and paper industry.