JASPER, IN -- Kimball Hospitality, a brand unit of Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB), today announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Martinsville, Virginia. The 60,000 square foot facility represents a $1 million investment, creating 67 new jobs. Located in the Patriot Center Industrial Park Area, the facility will house administrative offices, a showroom and state-of-the-art production operations to make upholstered seating products for the company's custom, program and catalog offerings for hospitality guestrooms and public spaces. Kimball Hospitality, known for bringing distinctive furniture solutions to life, is a leading global supplier specializing in proprietary and custom-designed furnishings for the hotel, casino, and resort industries.
Making the announcement, Jim Thyen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kimball International, said: "This new operation represents our commitment to enhance Kimball Hospitality's capabilities in pursuit of growth and additional market share. We believe this combination of the area's experience and dedication to excellence, along with our existing global presence and financial strength, will not only support our growth strategy but also add increased value to both new and existing customer relationships."
Stan Sapp, President of Kimball Hospitality, Vice President of Kimball International, stated: "We are excited to start this operation in Martinsville, knowing the area's reputation of excellence, pride in execution and long tradition of craftsmanship. We're proud to employ these experienced people and add them to the Kimball family."
By locating the new operation in Martinsville, Virginia, Kimball is able to draw upon the experienced workforce and highly skilled craftsmen from the Henry County region. Combining these third generation skilled craftsmen, with many years of experience, to the existing Kimball Hospitality package of value provides a major kick-start to expanding Kimball Hospitality's market position in the upholstered seating category.
Last September, Kimball Hospitality introduced an initial line of upholstered seating products at the Miami Hospitality Design Show, as the company began its expansion into the hospitality seating business. While focused on guest room seating, including ottomans, lounge chairs, sofas, and even sleeper sofas, the Kimball Upholstery line also addresses lobby and public space seating. The new Kimball Hospitality Martinsville operation reveals the company's full-scale commitment to upholstered seating in order to provide designers and developers with more product options to create uniquely defined spaces.
The new operation represents a significant commitment. Commenting on the site selection, Bob Bomholt, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for Kimball Hospitality, explained: "The skills and craftsmanship that have become such a tradition in this talent-rich environment make the selection of this location an easy decision. From pattern makers and frame makers, to those with sewing skills and upholstery experience and engineering know-how in computer programming and AutoCAD design, the talented people of this area are a foundation for success."
Market potential for hospitality seating is considered high, since approximately one third of the industry's overall sales are derived from seating products. Typically, chairs, sofas and lounge areas are replaced on a much shorter product life cycle than the guestroom furnishings of beds, headboards, side tables, dressers and TV chests. Current industry reports estimate several hundred thousand hotel guest rooms globally are in either the replacement or new development pipelines, and each room needs seating products of some kind.
Kimball's reputation for quality, service and performance in the hospitality market is well known among designers and developers of properties worldwide. Kimball Hospitality strategically focuses on providing products via three market sectors: custom, program and catalog. Proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, Kimball Hospitality has furnished hundreds of thousands of guest rooms and suites across the globe.
About Kimball Hospitality:
Kimball Hospitality, a brand unit of Kimball International, is a leading provider of both standard and unique, custom furnishings for the global hospitality industry. From major destination resorts and urban center hotels, to well-known hotel chains, Kimball Hospitality provides hotel planners and designers with the products, services, and capabilities they can rely upon to furnish facilities around the world.
About Kimball International:
Recognized with a reputation for excellence, Kimball International is committed to a high performance culture that values personal and organizational commitment to quality, reliability, value, speed, and ethical behavior. Kimball employees know they are part of a corporate culture that builds success for Customers while enabling employees to share in the Company's success through personal, professional and financial growth.
Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB) provides a variety of products from its two business segments: the Electronic Manufacturing Services segment and the Furniture segment. The Electronic Manufacturing Services segment provides engineering and manufacturing services which utilize common production and support capabilities to a variety of industries globally. The Furniture segment provides furniture for the office and hospitality industries, sold under the Company's family of brand names.
Source: Kimbal Intl.
Making the announcement, Jim Thyen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kimball International, said: "This new operation represents our commitment to enhance Kimball Hospitality's capabilities in pursuit of growth and additional market share. We believe this combination of the area's experience and dedication to excellence, along with our existing global presence and financial strength, will not only support our growth strategy but also add increased value to both new and existing customer relationships."
Stan Sapp, President of Kimball Hospitality, Vice President of Kimball International, stated: "We are excited to start this operation in Martinsville, knowing the area's reputation of excellence, pride in execution and long tradition of craftsmanship. We're proud to employ these experienced people and add them to the Kimball family."
By locating the new operation in Martinsville, Virginia, Kimball is able to draw upon the experienced workforce and highly skilled craftsmen from the Henry County region. Combining these third generation skilled craftsmen, with many years of experience, to the existing Kimball Hospitality package of value provides a major kick-start to expanding Kimball Hospitality's market position in the upholstered seating category.
Last September, Kimball Hospitality introduced an initial line of upholstered seating products at the Miami Hospitality Design Show, as the company began its expansion into the hospitality seating business. While focused on guest room seating, including ottomans, lounge chairs, sofas, and even sleeper sofas, the Kimball Upholstery line also addresses lobby and public space seating. The new Kimball Hospitality Martinsville operation reveals the company's full-scale commitment to upholstered seating in order to provide designers and developers with more product options to create uniquely defined spaces.
The new operation represents a significant commitment. Commenting on the site selection, Bob Bomholt, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, for Kimball Hospitality, explained: "The skills and craftsmanship that have become such a tradition in this talent-rich environment make the selection of this location an easy decision. From pattern makers and frame makers, to those with sewing skills and upholstery experience and engineering know-how in computer programming and AutoCAD design, the talented people of this area are a foundation for success."
Market potential for hospitality seating is considered high, since approximately one third of the industry's overall sales are derived from seating products. Typically, chairs, sofas and lounge areas are replaced on a much shorter product life cycle than the guestroom furnishings of beds, headboards, side tables, dressers and TV chests. Current industry reports estimate several hundred thousand hotel guest rooms globally are in either the replacement or new development pipelines, and each room needs seating products of some kind.
Kimball's reputation for quality, service and performance in the hospitality market is well known among designers and developers of properties worldwide. Kimball Hospitality strategically focuses on providing products via three market sectors: custom, program and catalog. Proudly celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2010, Kimball Hospitality has furnished hundreds of thousands of guest rooms and suites across the globe.
About Kimball Hospitality:
Kimball Hospitality, a brand unit of Kimball International, is a leading provider of both standard and unique, custom furnishings for the global hospitality industry. From major destination resorts and urban center hotels, to well-known hotel chains, Kimball Hospitality provides hotel planners and designers with the products, services, and capabilities they can rely upon to furnish facilities around the world.
About Kimball International:
Recognized with a reputation for excellence, Kimball International is committed to a high performance culture that values personal and organizational commitment to quality, reliability, value, speed, and ethical behavior. Kimball employees know they are part of a corporate culture that builds success for Customers while enabling employees to share in the Company's success through personal, professional and financial growth.
Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB) provides a variety of products from its two business segments: the Electronic Manufacturing Services segment and the Furniture segment. The Electronic Manufacturing Services segment provides engineering and manufacturing services which utilize common production and support capabilities to a variety of industries globally. The Furniture segment provides furniture for the office and hospitality industries, sold under the Company's family of brand names.
Source: Kimbal Intl.
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