Benchmark Almelo Experienced Rapid Growth Over
the Last Five Years Facilitating the Need for the Expansion, Which
is Complete and Unveiled Today
TEMPE, Ariz., June 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark
Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: BHE), a global provider of engineering,
design, and manufacturing services, today celebrated the grand
reopening of its facility in Almelo, Netherlands serving customers across the
aerospace and defense, industrial, medical and semiconductor
capital equipment industries. While the facility was never closed
during the renovations, Benchmark is calling it a Grand Reopening
due to a complete revitalization of the facility with extensive
expansions and upgrades throughout. The company celebrated the
Grand Reopening of Almelo on Friday, June
23, alongside Almelo Mayor Arjen
Gerritsen, key customers, and a host of partners, suppliers,
and dignitaries.
"Benchmark's Almelo facility is a critical site in our global
network that is home to our two Centers of Excellence - Fluid
Management and Electromechanical Systems- as well as a wealth of
expertise in other technologies critical to the industries we
serve," said Jeff Benck, president
and CEO, Benchmark. "This revitalization adds space for more
customer's projects, brand new capabilities and technologies,
improves the site's carbon footprint, and enhances the quality of
life for our rapidly growing talent base in the region. The
entirety of Benchmark celebrates with Herman Bartelink, Vice President Europe
Operations and John Perik, Vice
President Development Engineering and their teams today."
To facilitate a rapid increase in customer projects and
production over the last five years, Benchmark Almelo has had to
grow its talent by 25% - expanding from 480 employees in 2018, to
650 today. This growth led Benchmark's leadership team to invest in
the revitalization of the facility to increase and better utilize
space. This included creating purpose-built spaces for employee
activities, customer collaboration, 3D modeling, new product
builds, expanded testing, employee training, and more.
"It is an honor to welcome our customers, partners, suppliers,
and the greater Almelo community to our 'new' facility," said
Bartelink. "We have built an incredible team across a broad range
of skills who are producing excellent value for our customers,
while demand for our product realization services has grown
exponentially. Today, we're thrilled to celebrate our Grand
Reopening and unveil the updated Almelo site."
The renovations are highlighted by the site's 4,000 m2 expansion, which includes a
3,000 m2 increase to the
production floor and a new Design Center of Innovation to host
interactive concept and design projects with customers. Benchmark
also reorganized to enable a more efficient material and production
flow. Technology investments include a new 3D rapid prototyping
printing lab, prototyping lab enhancements, installation of a major
EMC pre-compliance test lab, improvements to the site's ISO Class 6
and 7 cleanrooms. Additional upgrades and investments include:
- Upgraded Calibration Lab
- Improved and Expanded Tester Build Area
- New Production Lines
- New Product Demo Space
- New Employee Training Facility
"We are pleased to be able to facilitate such a wonderful,
modern design environment that motivates and inspires our employees
to provide the very best for our customers," said Perik. "With
these renovations, we're taking Benchmark's product realization
services to the next level here in Europe by providing a space where engineers
and manufacturers can collaborate closely and work with the latest
technology available. Our customers will be delighted by the
opportunity to work with us in this new space."
In continued pursuit of its sustainability goal of reducing the
company's carbon footprint, the site has also incorporated several
features to improve energy efficiency. This includes better
insulation, triple glass windows, more efficient heating, solar
cells to power the heat/cooling pump, and LED lighting throughout
the facility. With these improvements, Almelo was able to achieve a
30% reduction in energy consumption per square meter.
"In Almelo, numerous renowned companies make unique
international contributions to the development and production of
high-tech applications. From sustainable energy concepts to
robotics and from efficient health technology to smart logistics,"
said Almelo Mayor Arjen Gerritsen.
"Benchmark Almelo has been part of this range of wonderful
companies for years. In our city and region, we are proud of these
companies, which invest in top talent, high-quality employment and
continuous innovation. The renovation and reopening of Benchmark
Almelo marks a new highlight of how technological entrepreneurship,
global trade, and regional employment come together."
To learn more about Benchmark Almelo and the new site features,
please visit the website at
https://www.bench.com/almelo-the-netherlands.
About Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
Benchmark provides comprehensive solutions across the entire
product lifecycle by leading through its innovative technology and
engineering design services, leveraging its optimized global supply
chain, and delivering world-class manufacturing services in the
following industries: commercial aerospace, defense, advanced
computing, next-generation communications, complex industrials,
medical, and semiconductor capital equipment. Benchmark operates in
eight countries and its common shares trade on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol BHE.
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