Contour Glass Announces The Hiring of Matt Spencer, Director of Engineering and Quality
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Surgoinsville, TN – November 19, 2012 – New Employee Announcement
On Monday November 19th Contour Glass would like to welcome Matthew Spencer. Matthew will be joining us as Director of Engineering and Quality. Matt comes to Contour Glass with five plus years of plant mechanical engineering and product development in the glass industry. He has extensive experience in process and procedures improvement and in problem solving. In addition, Matt has the background and skills to drive our quality process road map and further enhance “The Reliable Fit, Way.” Matt will be reporting directly to David Tomlinson, Vice President of Manufacturing, BP&E.
Matthew is a graduate of Tennessee Technical University in Cookeville, TN with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Contour Glass Announces The Addition of Heak Soaked Testing
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Surgoinsville, TN – August 2, 2012 – Contour Glass recently commissioned a heat soak testing chamber, which is used in the detection of nickel sulfide inclusions in tempered glass. Nickel sulfide inclusions are a leading cause in the spontaneous breakage of tempered glass. During the heat soak testing process, tempered glass is heated incrementally from ambient to a temperature of approximately 300° Celsius. The test chamber is sensor controlled through a critical “soak” time, and then a cooling down process. This measured heating and cooling method accelerates the expansion of nickel sulfide inclusions, which substantially increases the probability of forced breakage during the testing process and minimizes the chances of spontaneous breakage after installation. While the heat soak process is recognized as the best approach for the detection and elimination of nickel sulfide inclusions, the test does not ensure total elimination of spontaneous breakage. For additional peace of mind, Contour Glass offers heat soak tested (HST) glass in sizes up to 100” x 148” and in thicknesses from 1/8” to 3/8”.
Contour Glass Announces The Commitment to Quality Systems and Equipment Uptime
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Surgoinsville, TN – July 12, 2012 – Contour Glass has announced two very significant process improvement initiatives this week. VP of Manufacturing, David Tomlinson states, “We are very excited to begin implementation of the Infor10 ERP VISUAL QUALITY module, and the Global Reliability Solutions system. The new systems build on the expertise of our associates by taking their knowledge to a repeatable systematic approach, while continuously improving and documenting our methodology to quality and equipment uptime that we believe will reach world class levels.”
Mr. Tomlinson says, “The VISUAL QUALITY module was a no brainer, since it is tied directly to our recently installed ERP system, and was designed by experts in the quality field. In addition, our relationship with (GRS) Global Reliability Solutions and it’s president John Whigham, developed into an opportunity to bring their highly successful equipment uptime improvement system used by Fortune 500 type companies to Contour Glass.”
Contour Glass CEO and president Marc Massa says, “The addition of strong system enhancements and partners will strengthen our position as a top-tier glass transformation company and continue building the platform for significant organic growth.”
Contour Glass Introduces Jim Hamilton, Vice President of Finance & IT
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Surgoinsville, TN – June 25, 2012 – On Monday June 25th, Contour Glass announced the addition of James Hamilton as Vice President of Finance & IT. Jim comes to Contour Glass with 25 years of financial experience in manufacturing, retail, sourcing, distribution and construction. He has experience in strategic development, building confident and productive staffs, while interfacing effectively with management teams to achieve company goals. In addition to finance, he draws from a strong background spearheading software design, system conversions and project implementation. Jim will be reporting directly to Marc Massa CEO and President and will be part of the Contour Glass executive team that consists of Tom Parnell, David Tomlinson and Chad Nixon.
Contour Industries, Inc. Selects Infor10 ERP Express (VISUAL) Software
BizTech provides Implementation Support
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Surgoinsville, TN – December 16, 2011 – Contour Industries Inc., a leading fabricator of glass products for the appliance, solar and construction markets, is pleased to announce their selection and implementation of Infor10 ERP Express (VISUAL) manufacturing software. The solution was purchased through BizTech, an Infor Global Solutions Channel Partner located in Toledo, OH. BizTech’s Team consisting of Joe Horvath, Susan Justice, Jim Kistner and Nick Huber provided the Implementation Project Support Services.
“Contour Industries is pleased to be launching Infor ERP VISUAL on January 2, 2012. This system will allow us to see at-a-glance the impact of every order, constraint or bottleneck within our business, and allow us to manufacture at a level of speed and efficiency that makes the best use of our resources. Our goal as a company is to achieve consistently great performance, and VISUAL will help us to think strategically and manufacture successfully. Contour Industries has significant growth plans in place, and VISUAL will allow us a platform that ensures we are able to manage the growth, while maintaining the service flexibility that has become our trademark in the fabricated glass business,” said Tom Parnell, VP Appliance Sales & Supply Chain at Contour.
“Contour Industries’ dedication to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction was a key driver of their VISUAL Implementation,” said Joe Zalewski, Managing Partner and COO at BizTech. “From the very start, Marc Massa and his team had a vision for success. Their determination and efforts made this implementation successful.”
Parnell added, “BizTech has been an excellent facilitator of the Infor ERP VISUAL system implementation from the front offices to the factory floor. Everyone knows that implementing new software platforms can often have significant pains associated with getting them up and running, but our experience has been positive and relatively pain-free with BizTech’s personnel leading the way.”
About Contour Industries, Inc.
Contour Industries was founded in 1985 as a niche specialty glass tempering company of small sizes principle for the appliance, aquarium and millwork industry. Over the past 25 years, they have retained their focus while methodically expanding their capabilities. Today, Contour serves the appliance, solar glass, lighting, display, and building products markets with high quality glass products. They call this process of cutting, edging, silk screening, bent/tempering and flat tempering, ‘glass transformation.’ Contour’s two plants, totaling over 155,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space and three tempering lines, are located at the Phipps Bend Industrial Park, in Surgoinsville, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.contourglass.com.
About Infor10 ERP Express (VISUAL)
VISUAL is a manufacturing-centric enterprise software solution delivering end-to-end functionality, low cost of ownership, and ease of use to more than 5,000 SMB businesses worldwide. VISUAL serves the needs of diverse business models; including engineer-to-order, make-to-order, configure-to-order, make-to-stock and assembly-to-order.
About BizTech
Founded in 1999, BizTech is dedicated to providing complete Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Information Technology solutions that deliver long-term bene¬fits to small and mid-sized manufacturing companies. Like their 500+ clients throughout North America and over 5,000 VISUAL customers worldwide, you can rest assured that your projects are in the right hands. BizTech is an Infor ERP Channel Partner, a Microsoft Registered Partner and a Citrix Authorized Solution Advisor. The BizTech Team has one simple goal: to partner with your company in a joint effort to improve your business processes and increase your profi¬tability. For more information, visit www.gobiztech.com.
Indiana company buys Contour Industries
By Sharon Hayes
Published January 7th, 2011 7:12 pm
SURGOINSVILLE — An Indiana company has acquired local fabricator Contour Industries in the Phipps Bend Industrial Park.
Contour co-founder and President G. Keener Mallicote said Friday the acquisition by Cardinal Equity Partners of Indianapolis is good news for the company and could mean new jobs for the community. Contour employs about 80 people in Hawkins County, and Mallicote said another 50 employees could be added to the company’s rolls.
“I feel like these people can really grow the company,” Mallicote said. Contour got its start in a 3,000-square-foot former welding shop in 1985 as a maker of clock glass for home appliances. Today, it has grown to become the second-largest fabricator in the United States for the home appliance industry. Components that pass through its operations are supplied to various appliance makers including Whirlpool, General Electric, Electrolux, Viking and Wolf. Products include refrigerator shelves, oven doors, washer lids, dryer fronts, and digital control panels.
Mallicote said the company has been gaining market share every year. From its current 110,000-square-foot facility, Contour has experienced sales growth in 10 of the past 11 years, with an average annual growth rate of 19 percent. It recently completed construction of an additional 60,000-square-foot plant that will triple production capacity.
“I think with this new plant, they can really step it up,” Mallicote said of the new owners. The expanded operations will provide a new high-speed continuous process with in-line edging, drilling, tempering and bending capabilities. The process was designed to furnish commercial, residential, solar and automotive markets, as well as the appliance market, and is expected to be production ready by April.
Mallicote said Contour fits Cardinal’s business mission — to purchase good companies with good management and grow them. According to its Web site, Cardinal Equity Partners is a private investment partnership that seeks to acquire or assist management teams in re-capitalizing lower- and middle-market businesses located in the central portion of the United States. The company was established in 1993.
Mallicote said Cardinal plans to add to Contour’s current sales force to help boost sales for the older plant and to develop sales for the new plant.
Mallicote, who co-founded Contour Industries 25 years ago and has been at the helm ever since, will step down after a transition period. He said he’s looking forward to the future. “This sale provides a great opportunity for me personally, as I can now pursue other ambitions after 25 years in the glass fabrication business. It is also a great opportunity for Contour’s people and the community as a whole to be part of the rapid growth plan Cardinal has for Contour. I will be eternally grateful to each Contour person for all that we were able to accomplish together and look forward to their future success,” Mallicote said.
Story available at: http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9028872
