NEW SPACE USED TO PRODUCE FIRST-OF-ITS KIND STORAGE SYSTEM
(June 19, 2008) — Spacesaver® Corp., a division of KI, Green Bay, Wis., today announced the completion of a $7.5 million plant expansion it began in the fall of 2007. The new space is used in large part to produce the XTend™ Mobile High-Bay Storage (MHBS) system, a first-of-its kind system recently introduced by the company. Spacesaver marked the occasion with a plant tour, product demonstration, and ribbon-cutting event. Employees, customers, business partners, and members of the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce attended the event.
Spacesaver has added 20 more jobs as a direct result of the additional manufacturing space, bringing the total number of company employees to 508. The 45,000-square-foot plant expansion followed a 13,000-square-foot build-out of its Fort Atkinson plant in 2006. Since 2006, Spacesaver’s sales increased 15 percent.
Spacesaver President Paul Olsen attributes the company’s continued growth to a market-driven focus backed by a team of talented and skilled employees. He said Spacesaver has made a conscious effort in recent years to focus on the critical issues and trends in distinct markets, which in turn, drives the need to produce new, innovative storage solutions that help solve the unique time, space and security challenges that today’s decision-makers face.
“Both the plant expansion and the introduction of the new, breakthrough XTend system signify our commitment to delivering industry-leading storage strategies and meaningful product solutions that provide value to our customers,” Olsen said. The 30-foot-high movable XTend systems are specifically designed for academic libraries and a host of commercial and government applications where there is a critical need for a highly efficient means to store and retrieve archived media off-site – and free up increasingly precious onsite space. The systems also contribute to an emerging trend of sustainable facility design goals and help those striving to achieve LEED certification.
“We’re already seeing a lot of demand for the XTend system, even though it’s a new concept and an option that many didn’t realize they had,” said Spacesaver Vice President of Sales Mark Haubenschild. “We’re extremely excited about the momentum behind it as an increasing number of customers incorporate the XTend system into their facility plans.”
In addition to the production of the XTend systems, the new space is used to produce other storage systems found at many of the world’s largest retailers. Aside from construction costs, Spacesaver’s financial investment in the 45,000-square-foot space includes the addition of metal fabrication and welding equipment, as well as new production lines.