Nearly 100 guests gathered in Stow, Ohio, as AMF Bruns of America cut the ribbon on its new, expanded facility, and School Bus Fleet was there to capture it for you. The new 41,000-square-foot space brings together state-of-the-art manufacturing, operations, and customer support under one new roof. Executives say it’s a clear signal of the company’s growth and commitment to the North American market. Take a peek inside!
Inside AMF Bruns of America’s New Ohio Manufacturing Facility [Photos]
The new AMF Bruns of America building is located at 1251 Campus Drive in Stow, Ohio. The new building is 41,000 square feet, adding much-needed space with more room to grow. Previously, the AMF U.S. office had been in an 18,000 square foot facility in Hudson since 2013.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
The company held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 14, welcoming its executive leadership from Germany to celebrate the new North American headquarters.
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Maritza Valentin
AMF Bruns national account managers Maritza Valentin and Jeff Allgire stand in the new building’s manufacturing space.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
Jan Woltermann, board of trustees member, provided opening remarks to kick off the open house. “With this purpose-built facility, we are sending a clear message: We have arrived here, and we are here to stay,” he said. “This site represents an important milestone for us, not only strategically, economically, and emotionally. It reflects our growth, our long-term commitment to the U.S. market, and our ambition to be close to our customers.”
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
Peter Haarhuis, CEO of AMF Bruns, reflected on the company's history, including its modest start in Hudson, Ohio, tracing growth to today. As the company continues to expand, he believes 20% growth in the next year is possible.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
Joe Esteireiro, operations manager, gave open house attendees a tour of the new manufacturing space. Here, he explains the process for assembling the floors, rails, and all other components.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
Pictured here is the cutting station. Once the team collects the raw materials — the aluminum flooring, rails, etc. — needed for the order, it comes here to be cut to size for the customer’s needs and vehicle’s specs as entered into the program. Two new saws can read the program file and cut multiple parts without the CNC operators touching it, meaning the left and right side can be done at the same time to increase efficiency.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
After the flooring pieces are cut to size, they come to this station for assembly to add the rails and put it all together like a puzzle. Small blue pieces connect the floor together. Then, the floor is glued to the vehicle, with bolts only used in the back. Then it’s packaged and ready to ship within a week.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
The grand opening and open house welcomed almost 100 people for a first look at the new facility. Attendees ranged from company leaders to local government officials, key partners and stakeholders, customers, and press.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
AMF executives presented a $10,000 check to the Stow-Monroe Falls Community Foundation to show their support and investment in the community their employees call home. Here, foundation president Jessica Didion accepts the donation, pictured with Jürgen Bruns, Gerit Bruns, and Jan Woltermann.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
In their new showroom, AMF showcases its FutureSafe solution, a head and backrest on swivel arms that can be locked in place via loops to offer further occupant protection.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
The showroom also features AMF Bruns' seating options, ramps, and restraint systems.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet
Meeting rooms and office spaces received an upgrade, featuring bright, airy windows and modern construction.
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Amanda Huggett/School Bus Fleet