Fenner Precision Polymers grows with demand, opens new facility

At 35,000 square feet and room to expand, the new Fenner Momentum Center in Lititz, Pa., addresses both company growth as well as demand in the power transmission and motion control industries.

"In a word, [it is about] growth," Jack Krecek, divisional managing director for Fenner Precision Polymers Inc., told Rubber News. "The impetus for the Fenner Momentum Center is largely about the sustained growth that Fenner has experienced in recent years, including throughout the pandemic."

Further bolt-on acquisitions, a surge in market demand for Fenner's brand product portfolios involving rubber and polyurethane and Fenner's expertise in design engineering — a hallmark of a Michelin Group company — have made this growth possible, "even in the most challenging of economic climates," Krecek said.

Fenner's investment in the Momentum Center was not disclosed.

"Fenner Momentum Center is currently operating as a dual-purpose facility with corporate offices for over 100 executive and support staff functions," Krecek said. "While manufacturing and production operations are not currently part of the FMC, there is room for expansion as the company grows."

The Momentum Center initially will employ 96 and house both Fenner Precision Polymers' corporate offices and warehouse space, and later research and development efforts.

Move-in was completed in January, and there are several business efficiencies that come with the new center, including "a considerably higher level of cross-functional collaboration between teams."

"What might have taken more time or virtual platforms to collaborate is now greatly improved through better onsite office design and reduced carbon footprint," Krecek said.

And the project is aligned with Michelin's growth and environmental sustainability objectives.

Krecek noted that this will come through reduced travel between disparate locations for routine meetings, project collaboration and special events.

In addition, the Momentum Center features a programmable HVAC system that is more efficient for reduced waste in heating and cooling.

"The relocation better positions Fenner to accommodate ongoing growth of the business, while also offering enhanced comfort and cross-functional collaboration among employees," Krecek said. "In support of sustainability goals, it also offers greater opportunities to reduce carbon emissions."

And an uptick in food and beverage, transportation, material handling, consumer product and infrastructure markets means increased demand for the power transmission, conveying and motion control markets.

"Fenner sees an opportunity to assist the industry in keeping pace with the market by further reducing downtime and identifying greater operational efficiencies and cost-cutting measures," he said. "By consolidating operations in the new location, we can considerably increase our capacity, not solely through manufacturing processes, but also through LEAN-certified best practices developed in-house for streamlining IT and procurement processes.

"These measures have considerably cut the time required for delivery of both custom and standard product orders."

The Fenner Momentum Center and new corporate office construction comes on the heels of several recent collaborations with Michelin's High-Tech Materials Division.

The Eagle XLD O-Rings and technical textiles like Fenlon Asta are two examples, Krecek said.

"With active R&D operations planned for the headquarters, there will be much more world-class innovation coming out of the FMC," he said.

Fenner hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the facility March 2. Several local luminaries attended the opening, including Rep. Mindy Fee (R-37) and Rep. P. Michael Sturla (D-96).

"I congratulate Fenner Precision Polymers on the opening of their new Momentum Center," Sturla said in an email to Rubber News. I also thank them for choosing Lititz to be their headquarters, which will help our local economy."

Fenner Precision Polymers has manufacturing facilities in Lancaster and Manheim, Pa., as well as Wilmington, N.C., and Los Angeles.

Fenner has additional global manufacturing facilities in Italy, the United Kingdom and China.

Fenner Precision Polymers and its subsidiaries, Fenner Drives, Fenner Precision, James Dawson, Fabri Cote and Mav S.p.A., among others, comprise more than 800 employees worldwide.

Fenner Precision Polymers supports customers in the 3D printing, document handling, transportation, mining, agriculture, aerospace, climate control, material handling, food processing, and manufacturing industries.

Product lines include coated fabrics and technical textiles, link belting for power transmission and conveying, keyless locking devices, Eagle polyurethane belting, silicone and organic rubber hoses, customized bearing solutions and PowerMax composite products.