Expansion Management

Seco Relocates Custom Tooling Division to US Headquarters

April 1, 2013

Company will close Tennessee plant due to excess capacity.

Seco Tools, which is based in Sweden, recently announced that it will relocate its Custom Tooling unit to its North American headquarters in Troy, Mich.

The company said the relocation will facilitate developing a center of excellence in engineered customer solutions.

At the same time, Seco will close its Lenoir City, Tenn., standard tooling facility due to “changes in demand and production capacity,” the company said.

"The decision to close the Lenoir City production operation was a difficult one for the company because of the extremely positive experience we've had in the area and the talented and dedicated team of people we work with there,” said Kurt Nordlund, president of Seco Tools, Inc.

"The global market has not developed according to plans made seven years ago, which has resulted in excess capacity,” Nordlund added. “Because of this, we need to modify our production model to accommodate actual market requirements.”

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.