Due to the growth in its tool rehabilitation and PCD diamond cutting tool divisions, the Brookfield location of Guhring Inc. has expanded into a third, 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.
The company also has a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and 30,000-square foot-office and standards inventory building on Commerce Avenue in Brookfield. The new 60,000-square-foot building is next door to Guhring’s office building.
Guhring Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Gottlieb Guehring oHG, a German company. Guhring manufactures more than 30,000 different drills, taps, end mills and other cutting tools.
Guhring Inc. also has a manufacturing facility outside of Detroit.
Different market forces have created the increased demand for the two services that are being housed in the new facility, said Craig Zacher, general manager of operations.
Customers who bought Guhring’s tools previously now recognize the benefits of having the tools repaired at the original factory, because the requirements of those tools are so high, Zacher said. And new materials used in the auto and aerospace world require tools with diamond cutting, because of how tough those materials are.
“Things like the Joint Strike fighter and all of the aluminum being used for engines and transmissions in the auto industry have tripled the size of that division,” Zacher said.
The new 60,000-square-foot facility has significant room for expansion, but some of that room will be occupied within the next year, said Don Jacquart, president. Within that time frame, the company will move its standard inventory and expand its coating division into the new building. It’s also planning to move its customer service workers into office space in the new building, Jacquart said.
The new facility also includes a training center where employees, customers and sales representatives stay up to date on Guhring’s new products. The training center includes tool vending machines, a CNC machine, and numerous demonstration areas, Zacher said.
Guhring Inc. has about 220 employees in Brookfield. Employment has been increasing by about five percent annually, Zacher said.
“We still have open positions now,” he said. “That’s been one of the big factors to our growth – finding skilled, trained people to do these things.”
Guhring has more than $60 million in revenues last year, Zacher said, and it anticipates double-digit growth this year.
The company may need to expand again after three years, both Jacquart and Zacher said, because of increased demand for its products and services. Guhring is also looking to expand its offerings, Zacher said.
“We can see opportunities on the horizon to bring new products in,” he said. “We’re aggressive to add to our local manufacturing capabilities.”
