The ASTM International 2005 Henry A. Gardner Award was given to Aivars U. Freidenfelds, vice president at ElektroPhysik USA, Arlington Heights, Ill. He received the award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the operation of Task Group D01.23.12 on Dry Film Thickness.

Freidenfelds, who lives in Oak Grove, Ill., joined ASTM International in 2000 and works on Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials and Applications. Outside ASTM International, he is a member of the Society of the Plastics Industry and the Society for Protective Coatings. He also is an editorial advisory board member on Industrial Paint & Powder magazine.

Professionally, Freidenfelds at ElektroPhysik is their North American operations' vice president and general manager. ElektroPhysik is a manufacturer of coating thickness testing instruments.

A graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with a B.S. in marketing, Freidenfelds earned his M.B.A. from Roosevelt University; he also studied psychology and criminal justice at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

ASTM International Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials and Applications is one of 137 technical standards writing committees.