USA-based Guttenberg Industries completes expansion with some new IMMs installed

The late 2016 announcement by Guttenberg Industries, Inc. (GII) of its recent planned expansion has already come to a successful conclusion.  The $1 million investment over the past few months was just a portion of the overall investment and the result of 20% sales growth for the Clayton County, Iowa manufacturer in 2016.

Guttenberg Industries invested significantly in equipment, building, and employees throughout 2016.  During the past year the company invested nearly $2 million in equipment and construction, including a 385-ton Niigata injection press installed in September, a 940-ton Toyo injection press installed in January 2017. A building expansion that included 12,000 square feet of additional warehouse space and a new 15,000 square foot parking lot capped the latest developments.

The parking lot was especially indicative of the company’s growth as employment during the past four months has grown to nearly 150 from just less than 100 only 12 months ago.

“We have also been investing in our workforce,” explains Dave Kreul, corporate president. “In the past 12 months we have increased our labor force by 65 percent and our support staff for that labor by seven percent. We also increased our entry level wages by 20 percent.”

A change in world markets is also having an impact.

“One major benefit to our company is that some customers have been bringing work here from China,” says Kreul. “One of our closest customers brought back one major product line in 2016 and is bringing back another major project in 2017.  Combined sales for these products approach $3 million annually for our company.”

There was also a dual benefit for adding the warehouse space.

“While the building expansion was for warehousing, it also opened up space in the existing areas to expand our manufacturing capabilities, especially with the large presses,” states Moser. “Both new presses are expected to be completely utilized this year, with the largest one making agricultural flooring panels among other parts.”

“Guttenberg Industries is part of a new, advanced manufacturing movement in the U.S.,”  explains Kreul. “Many people are surprised to see this high tech machinery and robotics producing such precision products right here in their backyard. And, while our focus is mainly regional, we ship products to Mexico, UK, and Australia. Our molds come from the U.S., Canada, and China.”

Moser added that area residents are usually surprised to here that we not only do business in China, but that we have a regular presence there.

“Just this past December,” relates Moser, “three of us went to China to confirm the work that was being done and to approve samples from new molds, assuring the capabilities of our vendors for acceptable quality before shipment to the us for the manufacturing of parts for our customers.”

Kreul concluded, “We are very optimistic about the future of our company and our employees.  Our business forecast for 2017 shows continued double-digit growth.”