(l-r) Brian Boyle, REP Regional Sales Manager; Jeff Tanner, REP Regional Sales Manager; Josh Beachum, REP Technical Director; James Wirtz II, REP Aftersales Director; Larry Waters, Mayor Sevier County; Timothy Graham, REP President; Derek Williams, REP National Sales Director; Anna Seel, REP Accounting Director
REP Corporation has announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Kodak, TN. The current facility in Bartlett, IL, will be maintained as a sales and service office for the company.
The new facility is currently under construction and plans to be open in early 2019, according to company President Tim Graham. From the new location, REP Corporation will conduct sales, service, engineering and machine demonstrations, plus parts warehousing, for customers in North America. REP Corporation is a subsidiary of the REP International, based in Lyon, France.
Plans include the employment of approximately 20 people for administration, engineering, sales and field service. REP Corporation currently maintains an install base of more than 3,000 machines and has been selling in the North American market since 1970.
Aftersales Director Jim Wirtz explained, "We began our search about two years ago, recognizing the migration of the rubber industry to the South, as it follows the primary automotive OEMs. We were impressed by the efforts of Sevier County in Tennessee, especially Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters, as well as Allen Newton and his team at the Economic Development Council. This is a major step for REP-we have occupied essentially the same location in Chicagoland since we began here in 1970. We look forward to broadening our presence in the country and becoming part of this vibrant new industrial community in Kodak."
REP Technical Director Josh Beachum added, "One of the strong factors in our decision was the talent pool of young engineers in this area, combined with the technical training options available to us. The rubber molding business has a very unique set of chemistries and manufacturing technologies that require ongoing training and mastery."
REP Accounting Director Anna Seel said, "We will provide very competitive wages and benefit packages to our new employees, most of whom will come from the local community. This second location will help us provide support to our customers more effectively."
National Sales Director Derek Williams added, "This move represents an opportunity to support our transplanted existing customers who have followed the auto industry to the South, plus the newly emerging markets here."
Graham concluded, "We have received a very enthusiastic welcome from the local business community here, making this decision to relocate from our longtime Chicago headquarters an easier move." The company plans to relocate immediately upon completion of the new facility, located in the Smith-Thomas Technology Park in Kodak.
For more information contact:
REP CORPORATION
8N470 Tameling Court
Bartlett, IL 60103
847-697-7210
www.repinjection.com