(From the July 23, 2012, issue of Rubber & Plastics News)
PIQUA, Ohio—TMP Inc.'s Cleveland offices will move to parent French Oil Mill Machinery Co.'s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Piqua by Aug. 8 to improve customer support, company officials said.
The relocation is in line with French Oil Mill's intentions when it purchased the maker of hydraulic presses and mixers in 2009, according to Dan French, chairman and president of the company.
“We spoke with all the employees there and told them in three years we wanted to consolidate (the two companies),” he said.
Three of the five or so employees at the Cleveland office will move to TMP's new home, French said. “Some of the people we wanted would not leave Cleveland to come down,” he said, because of factors such as the housing market and their love for the city of Cleveland. Piqua is located in west central Ohio, just north of Dayton.
Many of French Oil Mill's key staff members who work at TMP will remain in their current roles.
Douglas Smith will continue as sales engineer, working in sales and project management in hydraulic presses for the compaction, friction and lamination industries.
Vice President David Sledz will continue handling sales and project management of hydraulic presses for the rubber, composite and laboratory markets, in addition to TMP's rubber mixer line.
Joe Antku, who has been the aftermarket spare parts and service representative, now will work with all French and TMP hydraulic press customers on service and parts needs. He also handles rebuild, retrofit, maintenance and calibration services.
French said the firm has hired five or six employees in engineering and sales positions to help with the company's operations.
With roughly 80 people at the Piqua office, including the company's manufacturing facility, he said the firm had to make only slight adjustments to ensure everyone would fit.
“We built new offices inside the building and did some rearranging,” according to French.
He said he doesn't believe customers will notice a difference in service after the consolidation.
“There will be no changes in the design or high quality you expect from French or TMP hydraulic presses, replacement parts or service,” French said.
Instead, he said service should be quicker because there will be more people available to help take care of the two companies' customers.
French Oil Mill manufactures hydraulic presses and turnkey systems for the composite, friction, lamination and rubber industries. TMP produces hydraulic presses, rubber mixers, related components, controls and auxiliary equipment.