Kitron has decided to set up a fully owned subsidiary in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA. The industrial operation will be running from 1 January 2011 and will predominantly be concentrated towards the defense industry and later on customers from the other market segments. A suitable location of 22,000ft² will be available from 1 October 2010 and recruitment of staff is ongoing.
In connection with Kitron’s establishment in the USA, it was decided to participate in The Showcase for Commerce exhibition in Johnstown 2 to 4 June 2010. Over 140 companies and organizations representing advanced technology, research and development, telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, retail, education, health care, financial services, utilities, government and media were participating.
More than 50 multinational defence firms who were seeking suppliers from the Johnstown area were represented as well. Such companies as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, DRS, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Martin Baker, General Dynamics, EADS, Bell Helicopters and Kongsberg Defence Corporation. Some of these companies are already customers of Kitron and Kitron is looking forward to develop cooperation with some of the others as well.
The Showcase of Commerce exhibition also included a press conference where various companies released news about new contracts and developments. The highlight was kept to the end and that was Kitron’s establishment in Johnstown. Roger Hovland, the corporate vice president, held a speech followed by greetings from the two congressmen Mark Chris from Pennsylvania and Norm Dicks from Washington state. Norm Dicks replaced the late John Murtha in the Defence Appropriation Committee and Mark Chris replaced John Murtha in the congress. Both congressmen visited the Kitron booth after the press conference.