Climax Portable Machine Tools Expands Facilities
To Fulfill Customer Need for Cost-Effective Machining Solutions
Breaks Ground on New Facility in Newberg, Oregon and Opens European Headquarters to Expand Machine Tool, Training and Consulting Offerings
NEWBERG, Ore., August 15, 2007 - Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc. a global leader in comprehensive, on-site machining solutions for the power generation, shipbuilding, industrial and engineering sectors, announced the expansion of its two headquarter facilities in Oregon and Düren, Germany. At its worldwide headquarters in Newberg yesterday, the company broke ground on an expanded facility that will house assembly and rental equipment operations as well as double its training capacity. Simultaneously, Climax also announced the official opening of its new European headquarters facility in Germany, where building and construction began last year.
To commemorate this significant global expansion, yesterday Geoff Gilmore, president and CEO of Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc., Congressman David Wu (D-OR) and Tom Fox, business development officer for the Oregon Economic Development Department, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new 14,000 sq. ft. facility, which will be built adjacent to its headquarters in Newberg, Oregon. Speaking to an audience of statewide dignitaries, local political figures, local press and its Oregon staff, Congressman Wu, Fox and Gilmore each described the role that the new facility will have on bolstering Oregon's employment and economic figures, and growing the business.
"The manufacturing sector has continued to thrive in Oregon, and Climax is a true example of a fast growing organization that is contributing to Oregon's economic success," said Congressman Wu. "While many states have lost manufacturing jobs to other countries, Oregon companies such as Climax continue to innovate and strengthen the state's homegrown technological expertise. I congratulate Climax on making an impact both on international trade and its contribution to Oregon's economy."
Over the past few years, Climax has experienced an annual compound sales growth rate of 22 percent, as worldwide adoption of its products and services has steadily spread. In the past year alone, Climax added 40 new employees to its culture of innovation in Oregon enabling it to increase its manufacturing and service capabilities.
The newest expansion at the Newberg facility will enable Climax to streamline assembly workflows and shipment of their machine tools that will create a state-of-the-art lean manufacturing operation. The facility also positions Climax as a competitive resource for customers seeking valve repair machines, boring machines, flange facers, lathes and mills and other specialized maintenance and repair solutions in the power generation, shipbuilding, heavy construction, mining, and civil engineering industries.
With additional training facilities, the Climax Portable Machining Training Institute will also offer expanded educational programs and hands-on workshops to help its customers offset the threats of a declining workforce of skilled machinists. Of particular benefit to Oregon, the expansion will also allow Climax to hire an additional 30 new employees who will engineer and manufacture Climax's portable machine tools for customers in North American, Asian and European power generation, shipbuilding and heavy construction industries.
"Our customers face growing competition within their industries and run the risk of losing ground by not exploring new tools, technologies, techniques and business practices. Climax's goal is to help them revolutionize the way their maintenance and repair operations are done by taking the solution on-site," said Climax's Gilmore. "With an expanded workforce and capacity to develop advanced machining solutions, we can continue to help our customers reinvent machining processes to expedite cost-effective repairs."
German Facility Brings Local Machine Tools Expertise to European Customers
Climax has also announced the official opening of its European Headquarters in Düren, Germany, to better serve customers in this area with around-the-clock engineering and technical support. The facility features both office and manufacturing space including a machine tools showroom, expanded manufacturing and assembly operations. With this facility, Climax enhances its capabilities to help nuclear plant managers develop procedures to optimize power generation efficiencies and to perform critical repairs necessary for operating license renewal. The facility also allows Climax to increase support to the European heavy construction and mining industries by providing on-site machining solutions, which will allow them to reduce downtime of in-field equipment.
The German headquarters also includes an expanded Climax Portable Machining Training Institute facility for engineering consulting, hands-on learning opportunities and technical support.
About Climax Portable Machine Tools
Based in Oregon, Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc. is a strategic world-class provider of comprehensive, on-site machining solutions. The company offers specialized engineering consulting services, customized training programs and a full line of portable machine tools enabling customers to efficiently perform on-site machining for applications in the power generation, shipbuilding, and service and engineering sectors. Climax Portable Machine Tools pioneered the portable machine tools concept. As the world's largest supplier of portable machine tools, it offers standard and custom-built solutions and serves the domestic and international markets through its own international offices and licensed representatives in 36 countries. More information about the company is available at www.cpmt.com.
