A premiere wire bending machine supplier is bringing jobs to Hillsborough County, Florida. Automated Industrial Machinery Inc. (AIM) is relocating their headquarters from Addison, Illinois to the Florida county, which includes Tampa.
The machine supplier company plans to invest more than $4 million in purchasing a building, renovations, equipment, and machinery. They have already purchased a building at 14101 McCormick Drive in Tampa that measures almost 53,000 square feet. AIM is planning on hiring 45 local employees who will have an average annual salary of $58,000. These positions will cover the field of engineering, sales, marketing, administration, and assembly.
According to AIM President Constantine Grapsas, they made Tampa their city of choice because of its business-friendly climate, its quality of life, and its access to an excellent international airport. Hillsborough County has seen a recent influx of companies relocating their headquarters to their area, including Resistacap Energy Products, The Mosaic Co., and Vendita Technology Group.
AIM manufactures their two- and three- dimensional wire bending machinery in over 58 countries and in 48 different models. Founded in 1992, AIM’s various models have served a wide range of industries, including medical, military, agricultural, food service, refrigeration, aerospace, and automotive.
Once these industries receive their top-of-the-line AIM machines, they know to maintain a friendly relationship with the major company. For small manufacturers especially, it is important to remain at the top of their partner’s production list. Clear communication and feedback is essential for manufacturers to get the machines they need and to continue taking good care of their parts.
When a manufacturer needs to purchase parts of a machine, they can face intimidating prices. In the next 10 years, the global market for Industrial Brakes and Clutches is projected to reach $1.7 billion. Having brakes and clutches that function properly is necessary for the safety of a company’s workers, so they’ve got to pay up for the best machines.
Properly training employees is an additional expense, but necessary for safety regulations. AIM will likely have to train their new employees in Tampa in every aspect of the job so that they stay safe and treat the machinery correctly. They will likely have to undergo training in seemingly minor aspects of the job, such as managing lubricants for the machines. According to a recent international study, 63% of manufacturing companies believe that they do not conduct staff training on lubricants as often as they should and just 42% have the correct procedures in place to manage lubricants effectively.
In addition to their new location for their headquarters, AIM is starting Advanced Orthodontic Solutions, a new company to manufacture microwire bending machines for the orthodontic and sleep apnea industries. Officials in Hillsborough County and Tamps are looking forward to the jobs and opportunities that AIM will bring to the area.
