BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 11TH 2014 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis, already the leading exporter of manufactured goods to the United States in the OECS and Barbados, is to see expansion in the sector soon.
General Manager and Head of Global Operations at API’s World Headquarters in New York, Mr. Kevin Heffler informed St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Minister of International Trade and Industry, Sen. the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt that the company’s plant, Harowe Servo Control in Sandy Point is to be expanded.
(Photos by Erasmus Williams)
“We are most proud to be talking about a building expansion at the Harowe Servo Control site in Sandy Point. We have been able to grow our labour force there and we are now fully filled to capacity in our building, so I am here to ask for support from the St. Kitts Government. We have thanked Prime Minister Douglas and Minister Skerritt for approving our expansion efforts in Sandy Point, so that we can bring more labour force to the community and continue our good relations, that is almost 40 years of manufacturing on the island of St. Kitts,” Mr. Heffler told the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) following the meeting.
He disclosed that the plans include the construction of an additional 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space. It will be a 2-story facility, 2,500 square feet on the first floor with an additional 2,500 square feet on the second floor.”
“We are expecting to add somewhere in the vicinity of 30 to 40 additional associates in our facility,” said Mr. Heffler, who noted that since 2009, “we have grown our labour force by 27% and we are now, as of last week, 214 personnel in our buildings and we expect to expand that further.”
The company manufactures resolver technology that is used in motors. “We have a motors manufacturing building as well and we also do magnetic components which are called inductors. Those are passive electronic components and those are the three major product lines that we have and that we manufacture here in St. Kitts,” said Mr. Heffler, who was accompanied by local plant manager, Mr. Carol Evelyn.
Mr. Heffler said the new space will add more capacity for the existing products.
“As we add space, that gives us the opportunity to break into new markets that we are after, to bring new product technology to our work force,” said Heffler, who had high praise for the local associates.
“We have a very dedicated work force, very loyal work force, very skilled work force and it’s quite difficult when you talk about the coil-winding technology and capabilities that we have. You just don’t find that type of work force out there so it is the skillfulness of the people that allows us to be enjoyably doing business here in St. Kitts,” said Mr. Heffler.
He disclosed that the company has tried operations in certain areas of Mexico and other places, but “those are product lines that we think can be very beneficial here because of the skill set of the team.”
He said resolvers are electrical positioning sensor systems that actually slide onto a motor shaft and anytime a motor is turning.
“You need what is called a feedback electrical positioning sensor system, so that it can tell the circuitry that you are in, exactly where is that position at. So just about every motor in the Industry, whether it is oil and gas Industry, whether it is aerospace industry, sliding systems …. …motors are used in that and it needs to know where the position is on that and that is what a resolver does for you,” Mr. Heffler explained.