Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/164142
insight on Economic By Mar yB eth Mat zek development Full steam ahead Manufacturing, tourism drive Sheboygan economic growth co u r t e s y o f t h e C i t y o f S h e b oyg a n T here's visible evidence near the busy intersection of Interstate 43 and Highway 28 on the re-emergence of Sheboygan's manufacturing economic engine. Earlier this year, American Orthodontics, the largest privately owned orthodontic manufacturer in the world, moved into the vacant Thomas Industries building, a 280,000-square-foot facility that sat empty since 2010. The company extensively remodeled the space, most notably adding plenty of windows, taking the building from a typical industrial building to a modern world-class corporate headquarters, says Chad Pelishek, director of planning and development for the City of Sheboygan. "They gave new life to that building and it's a very visible location for us in Sheboygan," he says. "This project is huge for our community and really adds a lot." As part of the $12 million project, American Orthodontics consolidated operations from four smaller Sheboygan facilities into the new American Orthodontics opened its new corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility earlier this year in a vacant industrial building. The $12 million project consolidated four local facilities into one. location. More than 200 employees work three shifts a day at the new facility, which improves productivity for the company. "The new facility is very exciting and fills our needs," says American "The new facility is very exciting and fills our needs. Keeping the jobs in the community was important and I think people are amazed to find out what we do here." –John Repenshek, American Orthodontics Director of Operations w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m Orthodontics Director of Operations John Repenshek, adding the move allows the company to stay competitive in a global market. "Keeping the jobs in the community was important and I think people are amazed to find out what we do here." American Orthodontics is just one Sheboygan manufacturer in a growth pattern. Vollrath Co., which makes commercial-grade food service equipment, finished its $4.5 million project at its headquarters earlier this summer, while Rockline Industries announced plans to invest $9 million in new equipment and add [continued] » S e p t e m b e r 2 013 • Insight | 41