CONCORD, Mass. — September 13, 2016 — Vibram®, a producer of high-performance soles and the creator of the Vibram FiveFingers® articulated toe shoe, today announced its centennial anniversary of manufacturing in the United States. The milestone celebration is set for Friday, Sept. 16, at its Quabaug Vibram Innovation (QVI) manufacturing facility in North Brookfield, Mass.
“Vibram USA’s ‘Centennial Event for the Future’ is as much about celebrating our future as it is our past,” said Mike Gionfriddo, president & CEO of Vibram USA. “This milestone represents Vibram’s commitment to innovating and manufacturing performance-oriented products here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
去年收购了Quabaug Corp.的收购后，2016年，美国Vibram美国承诺进行了为期五年，数百万美元的活动，并在员工和机械上进行了投资，以支持未来一百年的创新。因此，它正在升级QVI的能力，制造机，为期两年的劳动力教育计划，扩大其国内供应链并加强其产品开发和创新流程，以统治更多的全球市场。
“马萨诸塞州是许多伟大的制造公司的所在地，Vibram就是一个很好的例子。Vibram在北布鲁克菲尔德（North Brookfield）支持好工作，并延续了美国制造的高质量产品的骄傲传统。Vibram是我们的军事和男女使用的必需产品制造商，他还有助于确保我们的国家安全。我很荣幸能加入北布鲁克菲尔德的许多人，祝贺Vibram在马萨诸塞州中部的100年制造业中。”
In 2016 alone, Vibram has invested $6 million for new machinery and machine upgrades to ensure modern capabilities, innovation and institutional knowledge remain in the United States. That effort includes replacing 30-year-old machines with new, more technologically advanced presses, which allow for current materials to be produced with better efficiency, quality and faster response times to meet customers’ demands. Additionally, Vibram plans to make a significant investment in Vibram USA’s materials testing and validation center to better understand the chemistry of its materials as it relates to consumer-oriented performance attributes.
In terms of a commitment to its staff, Vibram’s plans include:
- 继续招聘业务的所有方面,我ncluding sales, marketing, human resources, manufacturing and finance, with a focus on recruitment related to innovation of talented designers, engineers, developers and chemists. That includes both electrical and mechanical engineers.
- A new partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide education to all 300+ Vibram USA employees, with a focus on topics such as plant layout, Lean Education Academic Network (LEAN) initiatives and quality management.
- 提供外部教育增长计划，与马萨诸塞大学洛厄尔大学材料科学和马萨诸塞州创新管理技术研究所的伍斯特理工学院项目管理协会合作。
Gionfriddo continues, “We continue to rely upon new, young talent, who bring technical degrees from top universities with majors ranging from engineering to chemistry and physics to drive Vibram’s global innovation projects in the U.S.”
“The Governor and I want to congratulate Vibram USA on 100 years of business here in the Commonwealth,” says Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Vibram is a key component of the Massachusetts manufacturing economy and an important source of high-quality products for members of our military and individual customers around the globe.”
Vibram USA’s centennial celebration, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m., this Friday, Sept. 16, at 18 School St., North Brookfield, Mass. Scheduled dignitaries attending include Rep. Jim McGovern, State Sen. Anne Gobi and State Rep. Donnie Berthiaume. The celebration will incorporate an anniversary commemoration, factory tours and hors’ d’oeuvres. In support of the celebration, guests are asked to please bring a pair of extra shoes to donate, as Quabaug Vibram International is gathering and donating shoes to Veterans Inc. of Worcester to help support veterans in need.
Posted September 13, 2016
Source: Vibram USA
