CHICAGO (July 24, 1:45 p.m. EDT) — Thermwood Corp., a maker of computer numerically controlled routers, is embarking on the largest expansion in the company's history.
The firm's CNC routers are for complex cutting, which is particularly useful for industrial thermoformers. However, their uses span many other industries, such as aerospace, defense and woodworking.
The Dale, Ind., company, which has been exhibiting at NPE shows for several decades, will add space for manufacturing, as well as classrooms and offices.
“We're basically adding two facilities,” President David Hildenbrand said at NPE 2006 in Chicago.
He hopes the project will be finished by spring 2007.
The company is adding a 56,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly area. It will be used for final assembly and testing of the CNC products.
Thermwood also is building a 20,400-square-foot, two-story complex that will include executive offices, four training rooms and a combination showroom/ demonstration area.
Hildenbrand said the training rooms are especially important, as they will allow more customers to learn about Therm-wood's software and routers.
The company also bought an office building about a mile north of the facility that will house development personnel for software and CNC machinery.
Thermwood got its start in 1969 as plastic molder of wood-grain parts for furniture, but has grown through its diverse collection of businesses.
Overall, he said growth is coming as the firm's businesses are accepted globally. Exports account for about 40 percent of sales, and Thermwood sends products to customers as far-flung as Mexico, Australia, Turkey and South Africa.