Raymond has implemented a number of upgrades to its manufacturing technology.

The Raymond Corporation has unveiled a 47,000 sqft. (4,400 sqm) addition to its facility and the reconfiguration of manufacturing space.

The creation of the Raymond Operations Center brought the addition of 32,000 sqft. (3,000 sqm). Raymond was able to add a second level for office space for operations and support, multiple collaborative team rooms and an employee fitness centre. This allowed for the reconfiguration of 60,000 sqft. (5,500 sqm) on the manufacturing floor and optimisation of the first floor support operations for improved efficiency and production capacity.

An additional 15,000 sqft. (1,400 sqm) expansion has been added to the west side of the building for new 60 ft. (18 m) test bay capabilities, office space, team rooms and break rooms.

Raymond also implemented a number of upgrades to its manufacturing technology, installing advanced automatic welding and laser-cutting technology, upgrading warehouse management software, and integrating the corporate logistics plan with just-in-time delivery of equipment and materials.

"Raymond's ever-growing workforce and our evolving needs as a leader in our industry was a driving force to expand our footprint and implement a number of state-of-the-art technologies on the manufacturing floor," says Michael Field, CEO. "In order to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers, Raymond must continually evolve in order to bring the most productive and efficient products and solutions to our customers."

Raymond's main manufacturing facility is located in Greene, along with its central offices which include operations, engineering, marketing, finance and various other departments. Many of Raymond's flagship products are built at the Greene location, including narrow-aisle Reach-Fork trucks, very narrow aisle Raymond Swing-Reach transtacker and sideloader trucks, and Raymond's sit-down and stand-up counterbalance trucks.

In addition to the unveiling of the expansion, Raymond's support of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers inspired a National Manufacturing Day event for over 200 of Southern Tier of New York high school students, demonstrating how STEM careers can be exciting, challenging and rewarding.

"Students were given a guided tour of our award-winning operations and witnessed first-hand from Steve Medwin, director of systems and advanced engineering, and myself what careers in science, technology, engineering and math are all about," says Rick Harrington, vice president of U.S. manufacturing at Raymond. "If we can inspire one more student to see a future in a STEM career, then we have been successful."