Air Motion Systems Relocates to Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Area
ARVADA, CO--July 24, 2008--Air Motion Systems, Inc. (AMS), a leading North American manufacturer of high-performance UV curing systems, IR/Thermal Air drying systems and related accessories for the printing industry, has announced its relocation to a new, greatly expanded facility in River Falls, Wis. - centrally located just east of Minneapolis/St. Paul and a few hours north of Chicago.
The 36,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility doubles the size of the company's existing operation in Arvada, Colo. and more than triples its production capacity. The new building also was designed and built from the ground up to be eligible for 'green' certification based on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The LEED program is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council and serves as a benchmark in the United States for energy-efficient, sustainable building design.
The new building will become the company's base of operations for research, engineering, manufacturing, sales, service and support, as well for customer-focused UV process training. Approximately 20 AMS employees also are being relocated to the Wisconsin facility. In conjunction with the move, Air Motion Systems is adding nearly $1 million in new equipment and more than 15 new positions to create a platform that will enable the company to take advantage of long-term opportunities for growth.
Home to one of the largest industrial concentrations of printing and publishing in the United States, the Upper Midwest, specifically the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, is an especially hospitable location for the expanded AMS facility, given its proximity to key customers. The company acquired more than six-and-a-half acres of land at the Whitetail Ridge Corporate Park in River Falls, Wis. from the City of River Falls through a Tax Incremental Financing deal to promote economic development along the key I-94 Technology Corridor in the state.
"This move is a tremendous step forward for our company," says AMS President and CEO Steve Metcalf. "Not only are we better positioned than ever before to meet our customers' needs, but the new facility is both designed and equipped to accommodate our growth well into the future. This move strengthens our competitive position and enables us to take advantage of new market opportunities."
Construction of the Wisconsin plant has been a true "green" field operation for AMS. Building materials used for the walls and roof, as well as for the furniture and interior contain a significant amount of recycled content. The facility is near VOC-free, makes use of geothermal energy and daylighting and is over 30 percent more energy efficient than newly constructed buildings of similar size. Expansion options designed into the building and site will enable the operations to expand as the company grows.
"It is incumbent on businesses of all kinds to evaluate the environmental impact of what they do," says Hans Ulland, AMS Co-founder and Executive VP. "As a good, responsible corporate citizen, AMS is committed to preserving and protecting the community where we do business and which we share with others."
AMS expects to fully occupy its new headquarters at 674 Highland Drive, River Falls, Wis. 54022 by August 1. The new facility can be reached at (715) 425-5600. The company will host a series of open house events for customers and partners, starting in September of this year.
About Air Motion Systems, Inc.
Air Motion Systems, based in River Falls, Wisconsin, designs and manufactures next-generation UV curing systems, IR / Hot Air dryers and related accessories that can be found at some of the world's leading sheetfed and web offset printing and packaging companies. AMS recently announced the launch of its 3rd-generation P3 UV(TM) system, an award-winning product that features the most advanced, flexible UV curing technology available today, making UV adoption by offset printers easier and more reliable than ever. Air Motion Systems is the producing sponsor of Print UV, the industry's first conference dedicated to UV printing. For more information visit www.airmotionsystems.com .
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