Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/141651
Movers and Shakers continued from page 13 Black Cat Blades Continued from page 13 In 2008 Black Cat opened its first production facility outside North America, a wholly owned enterprise with approximately 55,000 square feet of manufacturing space located in Su Zhou, Jin Jia Ba, China. The leased facility is adjacent to the steel mill that produces the feed steel used in production. Two hours by truck to the Shanghai Port, the China facility offers a competitive source of grader blades and other cutting edges as well as an inspection and packaging capability for castings. The ability to consolidate these product lines provides Black Cat distributors with a much broader range of products from a single source with a significant freight advantage to many destinations. Black Cat Blades Factory & Warehouse - Jin Jia Ba, Su Zhou, China - Built in 2008 - 55,000 square feet Factory - Jin Jia Ba, Su Zhou, China - Built in 2010 - 30,000 square feet Foundry Office - Jin Jia Ba, Su Zhou, China China production has since grown to three separate facilities, all wholly owned operations of Black Cat. Two of these factories are producing blade products and the newest operation, a 110,000 square foot foundry, has just started to produce castings for the growing offering of Black Cat Quality Wear Parts for large construction and mining earthmoving machines. DeWitt, Iowa, USA is the location of the newest Black Cat operations, a 59,000 square foot building located on 4 acres of land in the DeWitt Indus- trial park. Opened in November 2012, this facility is focusing on warehousing and distribution of products destined for existing customers in the Midwest. In years two and three the plan is to add manufacturing capability to increase the company's production capacity for blade products in North America. Having a facility within a few hundred miles of a dozen major customers will allow Black Cat to provide service levels, manufacturing options and logistical advantages for several key partners. The company has seen remarkable growth which it credits to three main factors; have a dedicated and engaged work force, offering the best quality products possible, and having the good fortune of attracting and retaining some of the best distributors for these products in the world. From 1968 with a few employees working out of a 3,000 square foot building in Edmonton, supplying basically one customer, to 1989 with approximately 40 employees in 8,000 square feet serving 25 active distributors in western North America, to today when more than 550 employees working in 3 different countries from 8 facilities covering more than 355,000 square feet, the company now sells products to over 250 active distributors in virtually every corner of the world. The entire team at Black Cat Blades Ltd. is committed to meeting or exceeding the needs of their customers by providing superior quality, service and Black Cat Blades Ltd. Warehouse - DeWitt, Iowa, USA - Bought in 2011 - 59,000 square feet product support. The first paragraph of the company's culture statement defines the commitment: "Our culture is driven by the rewards of honesty, integrity, trust and high achievement with respect for each other, our assets and our environment. These values will not be compromised for profit." ● Movers continued on page 17 IDA UNIVERSAL July-August 2013 15