Flightcase, speaker cabinet and 19 inch racking
solutions specialist Penn-Elcom announces the opening of a new fully
operational manufacturing facility in Tijuana, Mexico.
It is part of the company’s planned expansion
following robust trading worldwide in recent years, and the strategic location
in Mexico’s bustling Baja financial and industrial centre will benefit both
Penn’s Latin American and US markets with even quicker and more efficient
delivery times and product options.
Penn Elcom Mexico will be headed up by MD Javier
Haro with Frank McCourt heading up the sales effort. Javier has a manufacturing
background owning businesses both in Tijuana and in San Diego, California.
Frank’s career with Penn Elcom stretches back an impressive 32 years, working for Penn both in the UK and in the
USA. He has very close links with all Penn’s OEM clients. They will be assisted
by a team of – initially – 20 skilled workers, which will be expanded as the
company grows.
The Mexican operation will be completely
self-sufficient and modeled on Penn Elcom’s highly competitive and successful
plant in the UK.
An initial $2 million investment has been made in
Trumpf CNC machining workcenters, and the factory, which also features a full
powder coating line which will be installed & commissioned by NDK Finishing – manufacturer of
Penn’s powder coating lines in the UK.
“This will allow us to deliver products made to the
same overall quality as Penn’s other current ranges”, said Javier Haro.
Penn Elcom Mexico will also work in close
collaboration with Penn Elcom’s west Coast US service and distribution centre
located in Garden Grove, California, only 100 miles to the north, and one of
the company’s three US commercial hubs together with New Jersey and Houston,
Texas.
Said CEO Phil Stratford, “Adding localized
manufacturing allows us to target faster turnaround work and we are currently
recruiting for a new Branch Manager for our Houston location as we restructure
our sales effort.”
The new facility was inaugurated by Penn Elcom
Chairman Roger Willems in January. He states, “It’s a significant moment in
Penn Elcom’s 40 year history and development for this project to come to
fruition. It will be a huge boost to our business in the Americas and worldwide
as products made in Mexico can also feed into the Asia and Pan Pacific regions,
and in fact anywhere else they are needed via our global distribution network.
Mexico will also open up additional dynamic career opportunities for people
interested in joining the Penn Elcom team”.
Willems adds that they expect to start making a
full new range of 19 inch rack and flightcase hardware in Mexico.
The manufacturing set-up is designed for a seamless
interchange of talent and knowledge to flow between Mexico and the UK. Penn
staff can be trained ‘in-house’ at their own premises by their own management
teams, acquiring skills and embracing further international job opportunities.
Penn Elcom Mexico is part of the ‘Maquiladora’ free
trade zone scheme which allows the duty free importation of materials and
equipment for assembly / manufacturing and the subsequent exportation of
finished goods.
Commercial activity in Latin America – with its
rich culture of live music and performance –
has been strong for Penn Elcom and the brand currently has proactive
subsidiaries in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Colombia. With the
Mexican venture coming online, a push to expand in central America can be
expected in the immediate future.
“When we locate into a market it allows musicians
and equipment hire companies to develop into flightcase making … which is
often an expensive and challenging task … BUT … where there is music there is a
way … and consequently business,” concludes Willems with a knowing smile.
Photo shows, left to right Penn-Elcom’s
CEO Phil Stratford and Chairman Roger Willems, with Javier Haro and Frank
McCourt (respectively MD and Sales Director of the new Mexico operation)
