Citing increased customer demand for its products and a reliable forecast for that demand to continue, Auburn Manufacturing, a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of textile products for extreme temperature industrial applications, recently broke ground on a $1.4 million, 22,500 sq. ft. expansion to its Kittyhawk manufacturing facility in Auburn, Maine.
When completed, the expansion will nearly double the size of the company's Auburn facility and will require hiring a number of new employees, further adding to the local economy. AMI also operates a manufacturing plant in Mechanic Falls, which is currently running at full capacity.
According to Kathie Leonard, President and CEO of AMI, "The new expansion will not only facilitate our current growth, it also will provide the extra space we need for our continued focus on innovation, particularly in the areas of coatings, nanotechnologies, and heat protection enhancements."
For over thirty years, innovation has been a hallmark of AMI. "Advances in our manufacturing technologies have presented numerous innovative opportunities to make an even better product," said Leonard. "Aligning our core capabilities with these evolving opportunities has made us the industry leader in innovation, safety, performance and quality. With this new expansion we will have the opportunity to continue developing the most advanced, safest and high-quality flexible barriers against extreme-temperature challenges."
AMI's investment in advanced weaving technologies coupled with its expertise in fibers, yarns, weaves and specialty coatings has resulted in a number of recent product enhancements to its line of Ever Green R/R insulation covers, including Ever Green HS for hot service, Ever Green ET for elevated temperature, and Ever Green CHW for chilled water systems.
Recent additions to AMI's hot work product line include AMI-TUF TR translucent heat and fire barrier for data center protection, hot and cold aisle containment, and hot work containment enclosures; a line of extreme barrier (EB) composites for heat containment; and an expanded line of extreme temperature tapes and tubing for the pyrotechnics industry.
The expanded Kittyhawk facility is expected to be fully operational in September. Commenting on the timing of the expansion, which had been planned for a number of years, Leonard said, "With our growing product line, our continued investment in innovation, and interest rates where they are, this is the perfect time to go ahead." AMI hopes to expand the facility again in another 3-5 years.
