Date: 20 October 2015
This investment was done in response to the rising demand of fire rated glass and framing systems and to ensure consistently high product quality using state-of-the art equipment to control and streamline the manufacturing process. The new equipment purchases include:
- Glaston Tempering Furnace
- Bystronic Thermo Plastic Spacer (TPS) Automated Glass Line
- Hegla Glass Cutting Table
- Bromer Automatic Glass Loading Table
- Bromer Glass Edge Sander
- Costruzioni Mecchaniche Besana Glass Polisher
- Quaranta Glass Washer
- Fadal C&C Mill
- Amada Turret Punch Press
- Amada Hydraulic Press Brake
- Elumatic Profile Machining Center
- Global Finishing Solutions Paint Booths
- Flow International Water-Jet
The new equipment is housed near the existing manufacturing facility in a new 100,000 square foot plant in Merced, bringing the total manufacturing and research and development space to 300,000 square feet. In addition, SAFTI FIRST also invested in a new clean room to provide a higher quality filming operation and improved waterjet cutting for wire and ceramic glass. A turbine energy electrical system was also installed to make the manufacturing facility more energy efficient.
“All of the investments that we are making takes us one step closer to being the first fully vertically integrated fire rated glass and framing manufacturer in the US,” says William O’Keeffe, President and CEO for SAFTI FIRST. “For our customers, this means we can offer the fastest lead times and the most competitive prices. We also provide better coordination between our shop and the customer’s needs with unmatched flexibility and customer service to accommodate unique project conditions because everything is manufactured by us in one place, here in the USA.”
The expansion also provides greater employment opportunities for the residents of Merced and the surrounding cities in California’s Central Valley. In fact, SAFTI FIRST is a consistent recipient of the “Mid-Size Business Employer of the Year” award by the City of Merced for providing skilled job opportunities to local residents.
“Being a US-based manufacturer instead of just a supplier of foreign-made products is both challenging and rewarding, and we simply wouldn’t have it any other way,” adds O’Keeffe. “We have blazed our own trail providing FRG quality products for over 35 years, going head-to-head and toe-to-toe with billion-dollar conglomerates based overseas, and doing so successfully. We intend to continue in this path to deliver innovative, USA-made products and services for many years to come.”
For more information, please call 888.653.3333 or visit www.safti.com.
About SAFTI FIRST
SAFTI FIRST Fire Rated Glazing Solutions (www.safti.com) has been serving the architectural and building communities and is the recognized leader in manufacturing fire rated glass and framing for over 35 years. As the premier source for fire rated glazing, SAFTI FIRST was the first to introduce transparent fire rated walls to the U.S. market. Our SuperLite™ product line, fire rated from 20 minutes to 3 hours, includes fire resistive tempered units (SuperLite II-XL), fire resistive multilaminates with butt-glazed assemblies (SuperLite III-XL), fire resistive security glazing (SuperSecure II-XLS), specialty tempered glass (SuperLite I and I-XL 45), safety ceramics (PYRAN Platinum F and L by SAFTI FIRST), safety wired glass (SuperLite I-W) and specialty fire protective (SuperLite X-45/60/90). SuperLite products can protect against noise, attack, impact, bullets, blast, hurricane and UV rays, and are available in many custom architectural make-ups, including enhanced energy performance applications. The GPX Framing family is fire rated up to 2 hours and can be used in doors, openings, storefronts, curtain wall and now in fire resistive floor applications with the GPX FireFloor System. The GPX Framing family is available in multiple architectural finishes and can also be customized protect against attack, impact, bullets, blast, hurricane, and more. Our products are manufactured in the U.S. for fast lead times. For more information, call 888.653.3333.
Media interested in photos, interviews or other information should contact Diana San Diego at 888.653.3333 ext. 756 or dianas@safti.com.
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