Titanium Fastener Producer Nears Domestic Goal
FEATURE
CEO Christopher Greimes — Image Credit: Sequim Gazette Photo By Alana Linderoth
Reshoring Effort
In a 2013 letter to customers, CEO Christopher Greimes noted the challenges of reshoring titanium fastener production.
“In 2007, the majority of our parts were produced on ratchet and lever operated production lathes and milling machines. Cheap labor was absolutely key in the production of affordable titanium products. Today, in 2013, high speed CNC milling machines and lathes make almost all of our products and the use of manual labor is disappearing.”
“China only has America beat in labor, capital and raw material. We can eliminate the labor cost problem using robotics.”
“The cost of capital in America is a bit more difficult to crack. American venture capitalists and banks are reluctant to invest in American manufacturing due to the decimation of America’s manufacturing industry over the last forty years.”
“We can manufacture affordably here in America if we can get affordable capital.”
After years of producing its marine fasteners in China, U.S. company Allied Titanium is one step closer to starting domestic production.
“Our new American factory in the Northwest is now operational,” the company announced on its website.
The company has received the first two machines at its recently established western headquarters in Sequim, WA, the Sequim Gazette reports. CEO Christopher Greimes called it a “milestone” in his company’s effort to relocate production from China to the U.S.
“We’ve gotten a couple of machines in and have fabricating abilities, but are limited by personnel,” Allied executive assistant Nick Adams told the Gazette.
Founded in 2007, Allied Titanium is based in Delaware with manufacturing facilities in China. The company offers over 93,000 different products.
Allied Titanium plans to manufacture products in Sequim that meet or beat the current costs of manufacturing in China. The factory will use cutting-edge technology and robotics and employ between 50 to 150 workers, including sales staff, accounting, information technology, welders, fabricators, computer numerical control (CNC) operators, and shipping and receiving personnel.
The company’s marine products will be fabricated using high speed robotic waterjet machines and wirefeed tig welders; welded products such as tanks; and Grade 5 titanium fasteners that can be produced at high speed on automatic screw machines.
With the machines installed, Allied Titanium is looking to hire an experienced production lead and “a few thoroughly trained employees,” the Gazette reports.
“With the current available shop space, Greimes estimates filling about 10 production positions plus sales people,” writes Alana Linderoth of the Gazette. Greimes “estimates employing anywhere from 50-150 workers at the company’s full build-out, which is still a couple of years away.”
Eventually Allied Titanium will employ a “lights out” model “that allows for 24-hour production where the machines are programed to run unmanned for 16 hours per day,” according to the Gazette.
Greimes told the Gazette he is finding capital to be a missing component in the U.S., which lags behind other leading economies in titanium demand.
“We have a need and people that want to do it, but we don’t have the capital,” Greimes told the Gazette.
“Bottom line … we’re a bootstrap company.”
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