Herff Jones Expands with Fourth Eton Implementation
USA's Largest Cap & Gown Provider Expands Arcola Plant Size by 70%
ALPHARETTA, GA - October 24, 2005 - Eton Systems, the world's leading provider of unit production systems (UPS) for the sewn-product industries, announces that customer Herff Jones has recently placed an order for its fourth Eton production line for the expanding Arcola, IL plant. The new Eton line is part of a major factory expansion expected to be completed in January 2007. In addition to increasing their Eton implementation to a total of 86 workstations, the company is midway through the addition of 70,000 sq. ft. of new floor space to the existing 100,000 sq. ft. facility.
The largest producer of graduation caps and gowns in the USA, Herff Jones Company of Indiana, Inc. generates approximately $66 million in annual net sales of cap and gowns. The 85-year old employee-owned company employs 200 people in the Arcola, IL facility, which produces more than 1.5 million graduation gowns each year. The graduation apparel line comprises kindergarten, high school, college, doctor, and other custom apparel. Caps and gowns are offered in two fabrics and 18 different colors.
"We are expanding to meet both current and anticipated growth", stated Terry Hayden, Plant Manager at Arcola and a 21-year veteran of the company. "This addition is part of our 15-year strategic growth plan. We continue to invest in Eton as we constantly work to maximize efficiency, minimize costs, and improve quality. With our prior Eton implementations, we had full production within one week and have increased efficiencies by more than 20% on average. We met our return-on-investment projections of less than one year based solely on direct labor and associated overhead cost savings. Eton is clearly helping Herff Jones be more competitive."
About Eton Systems
Eton Systems AB is the innovator and world's leading supplier of the Unit Production System (UPS), the renowned productivity and management system developed specifically for use in the sewn-products industries. Eton's UPS automates material flow through the production process and minimizes material handling for each operation throughout the manufacturing process. Eton's technology and know-how enables companies to manage material and information in the most efficient fashion, including wall-to-wall data management from operations performed within as well as outside of the UPS system.
Headquartered in Sweden, the company operates with direct subsidiaries and agents worldwide. Eton Systems Inc. is based in Alpharetta, GA and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eton Systems AB.
For more information on Eton Systems, phone: (770) 475-8022 (USA - Georgia) or + 46 33 231200 (Sweden); e-mail: sales@etonsystems.com; or visit the website at: www.etonsystems.com.
The Americas
Rick Ludolph
Marketing Consultant
Phone: (770) 321-9842 (Atlanta)
r.ludolph@productivesol.com
Global
Fredrik Sätradahl
Marketing
Phone: + 46 33 231200 (Sweden)
fredrik.satradahl@eton.se
