Company Annoucement - USA⎯ Flexicon Corporation has broken ground for an expansion that will double the size of its world headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, it was announced by President/CEO David Gill.
"We built the current 8,500 m2 facility in 2001 on an over-sized site owned by Flexicon that had additional prime real estate beyond what was needed for the 2001 building, with the intention of expanding the building as demand for Flexicon equipment exceeded our capacity to produce it," says Gill. The addition will allow the Steel Forming, Welding, Grinding/Polishing and Blasting/Painting Departments to double in size, and the Electrical Controls Department to increase four-fold. The Assembly Department, which will be relocated into the new space, will be eight-times larger than before, and provide up to 11.6 m of overhead clearance to erect larger systems and enhance factory acceptance testing.
Other plant floor increases include a dedicated 370 m2 area for new product development, and a total of 10 tailgate loading docks and two drive-in doors.
Office space will increase to 3400 m2, with the first floor accommodating an expanded Electrical Engineering Department, and meeting/training rooms which can be combined with a new cafeteria using collapsible walls to seat 400 during special events for customers, representatives and Flexicon personnel. Second floor offices will house the Executive Management Team, Global Management Group, Information Technology Department and Project Engineering Division, and include six conference rooms.
In addition to manufacturing equipment for the Americas, the Bethlehem Headquarters oversees Flexicon operations located in the UK, Australia, South Africa, Chile and Singapore. "Doubling the size of our world headquarters will have the immediate effect of reducing wait times for equipment deliveries," says Mr. Gill, "while allowing us to develop new product lines and secure patents on an accelerated basis, positioning Flexicon for exponential growth."