After nearly doubling the square footage of its Caribou plant, British manufacturer Porvair expects to invest in clean manufacturing space and other improvements later this year.
Two years after buying Chand Eisenmann Metallurgical for $5.5 million, Porvair Filtration Group President Kevin Nelson said the company’s plans for the Caribou facility are on track.
“We’re purchasing some additional capital equipment, all towards entering some new markets and continuing our growth,” Nelson said.
Nelson said the company has increased employment slightly since the purchase, when the company had about 40 employees. Employment is up about 15 percent since the acquisition, Nelson said, or about six positions.
“I think we’ll probably add just a few more,” Nelson said, as the company is starting its next budget cycle. “We will probably continue on a slower pace but nevertheless continue to add as we grow.”
In interim financial results issued this week, the company stated U.S.-based revenue was up 44 percent for the six months ending May 31, 2015.
Overall revenue for its microfiltration division, of which the Caribou facility is a part, was down by 16 percent for that period, which the company statement said was affected by investment in large projects. The UK-based company grew its profits through the decrease in revenue, up 8 percent to 4.3 million pounds sterling.
The company’s 9,000-square-foot expansion in Caribou, built by Bowman Constructors, includes laboratory facilities, new shipping and receiving areas and quality control space.
The Caribou facility is one of the company’s five U.S. locations and is one of three U.S. locations that manufacture microfiltration devices. The company has plants in North Carolina and Illinois focused on filters for molten metal.
The company’s filters also are sold for use in environmental laboratories, energy and industrial applications and aviation.
