Charlotte, North Carolina – Hennecke is set to open a new facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and plans an expanded distributor network.
According to director of sales Bob Biondich, they will move into the new facility in December. The company is planning an ‘open house’ for customers in spring 2019.
The new site is a purpose-built facility that will replace its existing location a couple of miles away, and include an R&D lab for applications, and 50% more office space.
The move will also involve the relocation of an inventory of more than $2 m in spare parts.
‘With the new facility, we have a lot of options,’ Biondich said. ‘As well as running customer trials, we will be running training, including for our distributors.’
The company has set up a North American distributor network to help it get closer to its customers. Currently, there are four companies in the network: NCFI in Mount Airy, North Carolina; AFD in Dallas, Texas; Air Power in High Point, North Carolina; and PRP Systems in Howell, Michigan.
It is looking to recruit two or three more US distributors, and is also in talks with companies in Canada. This will include both machinery specialists and systems houses.
‘The network is innovative because it allows customers to have spare parts and tech service people nearby, and fall back on Hennecke technicians if necessary,’ Biondich said. ‘Small companies can be intimidated by a large company. These guys are in their backyard to make them feel more comfortable.’
