Fuji Dedicates New National Headquarters
HANOVER PARK, IL—With employees, local officials, dealers, partnering vendors and guests in attendance, and the Fujifilm blimp flying overhead, Fuji Photo Film USA officially opened its new national headquarters for the Graphic Systems division on July 31. The site also serves as the Midwest regional office and distribution center for all of its imaging products.
Located in this northwestern suburb of Chicago, the three-story, 320,000-square-foot building houses approximately 250 people.
"This is the headquarters facility that we have dreamed about for many years," exclaimed Dan Maffeo, vice president and general manager of the Graphic Systems division. "As the national headquarters, this new facility provides expanded office space and training and technical support areas, as well as a state-of-the-art product demonstration area for customers and dealers across the United States."
The new building is a far cry from Fuji's original, 10,000-square-foot operation in Elk Grove Village in 1975, recalled Stanley Freimuth, executive vice president and COO of Fuji Photo Film USA, as he welcomed the visitors. Right after the event Freimuth was heading off with his family to relocate to Fuji's corporate offices in New York.
The new headquarters comprises 100,000 square feet of offices, 27,000 square feet of conference room space, as well as a 220,000-square-foot warehouse. A part of the building is also devoted to the refurbishment of equipment, of which Fuji rebuilds about 15 to 20 machines per month.
An additional 80,000 square feet of space is available for future expansion of the facility, if necessary, according to Fuji officials.
The warehouse reportedly ships approximately $1.6 million worth of products on a daily basis, much of which is produced at Fuji's manufacturing operation in Greenwood, SC.
In response to some of the doom and gloom over the overall economy, the state of the graphic arts industry, in particular, and recent industry consolidation, Maffeo remained upbeat in his address to the attendees. He also reminded everyone that the printing and publishing industry is the fourth largest industry in the United States.
"This outstanding headquarters is a clear message to the graphic communications industry that Fuji is here for the long haul and is totally committed to this industry," Maffeo concluded.
