ARNSTADT, Germany -- Ried i.I./ Wintersteiger Sagen GmbH, a subsidiary of the Wintersteiger group, is expanding its saw factory.

Three million Euros (about $3.5 million) have been invested in buildings and equipment to enlarge the production plant in Arnstadt, Thuringen, by 6,000 square feet. The new capacity was formally opened in mid-June.

The increased capacity will pave the way for growth at the saw factory. Along with expanding the machine park, processes in both saw production and support services are being optimized. The result for customers is that lead times are being reduced. Covering a total area of about 20,000 square feet, the newly enlarged production facility can now produce more than 20,000 meters of saw blades per day.

With its 60 employees, the Arnstadt site manufactures blades for Wintersteiger thin-cutting sawing machines, for joineries and mobile saw mills, resawing band and log band saws, as well as for the food industry. A total of 85 percent of the factory's blades are exported to more than 50 countries.

Saw manufacturing has been part of the Wintersteiger group since 2004. The relationship began in the 1980s under the company's earlier name of Banholzer GmbH, which produced saw blades for Wintersteiger frame saw machines. The ability to offer both machine and sawing tool from a single source is still a unique selling point for customers. See http://www.wintersteiger.com.