GF Machining Solutions Opens New California Facility
The 105,000 sq ft campus includes 23,000 sq ft of office, engineering, technical support and training space and 82,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space.
Posted: October 24, 2014
GF Machining Solutions (Lincolnshire, IL) welcomed more than 150 guests, including many city and state officials, at the grand opening of its new Irvine, CA, facility on October 9. The event featured a formal ribbon cutting ceremony followed by guided tours, product displays, machine demonstrations and presentations.
The new Irvine building, which also houses GF Piping Systems, allows the companies to better support customers throughout the Western region with even more advanced technology, support and training. It also increases opportunities for collaboration between GF Machining Solutions and local manufacturers on the development of new technology and improvement of processes. The 105,000 sq ft campus includes 23,000 sq ft of office, engineering, technical support and training space and 82,000 sq ft of manufacturing and warehouse space.
At the event, GF Machining Solutions showcased several of its products. Specifically, the company highlighted its newest technologies in 3-axis and 5-axis high-speed and high-performance machining centers and in EDM, as well as System 3R tooling and automation technology.
Glynn Fletcher, the president of GF Machining Solutions Americas, said, “The new Irvine location will further strengthen customer service. We want to provide extraordinary service and support for our customers in this region, and are investing in the resources to ensure that this is the case. The opening of this superb facility reinforces that commitment.”
Hosting the official ceremonies at the event were Glynn Fletcher; James Jackson, the head of Business Unit Americas for GF Piping Systems; and Pietro Lori, the head of GF Piping Systems and a member of the executive committee in Switzerland.
Local and state dignitaries offering opening remarks included California State Assembly Republican Member Donald P. Wagner (68th Assembly District); Cody Eckert, a representative from State Republican Senator Mimi Walters’ office (37th District); Irvine Mayor Steven S. Choi, Ph.D.; and from the Chamber of Commerce, Gladys Rojas, Membership Services and Danni Remington, vice chair of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
“GF already has a significant U.S. footprint with many locations across the country,” said James Jackson, head of Business Unit Americas. “Our new larger facilities allow us to increase our presence on the West coast by providing additional custom manufacturing, training capabilities and expanded personnel.”
With 75 percent more square footage than a previous California facility, GF Machining Solutions and GF Piping Systems are more equipped to handle increased demand for their products. The building’s 27 ft high ceilings create a more open and spacious feel, and four shipping bays – two dock high and two ground level – make shipping more efficient. The new campus also offers the companies’ more than 100 employees improved amenities that include a larger cafeteria, more parking spaces and shower facilities.
GF Machining Solutions is a leading provider of machines, automation solutions and services to the tool and mold making industry and to manufacturers of precision components. The products range from electric discharge machines, high-speed and high-performance milling machines, including clamping and palletization systems, and 3D Laser surface texturing machines, to services, spare parts and expendable parts, consumables and automation solutions.
As a globally active group, GF Machining Solutions, a division of Georg Fischer Group (Switzerland), maintains a presence on 50 sites worldwide within its own organization. Its 2,873 employees generated sales of CHF 867 million in 2013.