Glasforms Announces Major Expansion At Second Factory Location
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March 24, 1999 - San Jose, CA - Glasforms Inc., a manufacturer of fiber reinforced plastic composites, announced today plans to build two additional state of the art pultrusion factories adjacent to their current Birmingham, Alabama facility. Ground breaking will begin in April, as the second and third phases of a major expansion project totaling over $6 million. These phases includes a 30,000 square foot plant complete with climate control and proprietary high output machinery, plus another 30,000 square foot shell for their third factory. The second factory is scheduled to begin operation in September 1999 while the third factory shall serve as a warehouse until further production capacity is added in year 2001. These new facilities will be located on Glasforms nine acre site in the Valley East Industrial Park mirroring their existing 30,000 square foot operation. The current Birmingham plant opened in March 1995 as a satellite manufacturing plant to better serve customers geographically. Glasforms employs a workforce of 55 in Birmingham and will increase to 80 employees with their second factory. "Birmingham was originally selected as Glasforms second location due to the city's outstanding quality and low cost of living, as well as its proximity to major customers," said Peter Pfaff, President of Glasforms. "The city of Birmingham has again assisted our development by providing low interest tax exempt industrial bond financing, tax abatement incentives and employee relocation services." The Birmingham City Council approved the expansion plan on January 20, 1999. Glasforms Inc., a leader in the pultrusion industry, produces composite components for OEM customers in over 80 different market segments and exports approximately 25% of its products to over 40 countries worldwide. With the continued growth in its major markets for electrical and infrastructure products and the successful development of several new products, Glasforms expects to double its business in the next four years. The company currently employs 160 between operations at its 100,000 square foot headquarters in San Jose, California and the Birmingham facility. |
