Maris America Corp. is making moves to boost its position in the United States after years of success in Europe, Asia and South America. The company has moved to a new U.S. office, and has entered into an agreement with Apex Engineering Inc., an engineering firm based in Calvert City, Ky., to handle repair work on the company's extruders.
The company is the U.S. arm of Maris SpA, a Turin, Italy, manufacturer of co-rotating twin-screw extruders since 1970. Maris America was created in 2001 to bring sales, service and spare parts to the United States.
But the Italian-made extruders lacked technical support in the United States.
``Prior to the Apex agreement, we had to fly technicians in from Italy,'' said Ed Ford, vice president of Maris America. Now, when customers contact Maris America regarding repair issues, it will send Apex to handle the problem.
``It makes for quicker turnaround for the customer and lower transportation costs,'' Ford said.
Maris America relocated its head office from Baltimore to Dover, Del., on May 24. The new location is near a company that will store and ship Maris' spare parts. Ford would not identify the other company.
Maris America has also added eight independent sales representatives across the United States and Canada.
