PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Contact: Noel LaBine 763-477-3086

Partnership visits Forward Technology of Cokato

 

Wright County – On July 16th , members of the Wright County Partnership, the City of Cokato visited Forward Technology at 260 Jenks Avenue in Cokato. President Brian Kivisto welcomed the group and led a tour of the facility. Those attending included Curt Dahlen of the Cokato EDA; Don Levens of the City of Cokato; Chris Schultz of the Herald Journal; Brad Durfee of MN DEED; Brian Streich , vice-chair of the Partnership; Noel LaBine, Director of the Partnership; and Wayne Bauernschmitt of Wright Hennepin Electric Cooperative.

Forward Technology specializes in the manufacturing of equipment that welds thermal plastic parts. This includes hot plate welding, spin welding, and vibration welding. They are recognized as a world leader for the manufacture of hot plate welding equipment, and they are number 2 for vibration welding equipment. They also manufacture leak testing equipment, because there is a lot of their equipment used to manufacture fluid containers. They also build equipment to do battery welding and they anticipate increased demand for that equipment as more and more electric cars are produced. As part of their equipment manufacturing process they make a lot of systems that are integrated with robotics.

When discussing the technology aspect of this industry, President Kivisto mentioned several programs and pieces of equipment. The equipment they make use SolidWorks, AutoCad, SDRC, CAMAX, SurfCAM, and Master CAM., and their equipment works with FANUC robots . They have five engineers on staff who do research and development as part of their job. Some of the techniques they are trying to perfect include infrared welding and laser welding

Forward Technology began in 1965 in St. Louis Park . In 1985 they moved to Plymouth . In 2000 Crest Group out of Trenton , NJ bought the company. At that time part of the company built precision cleaning equipment with many of the cleaners used in the computer industry. Most of that industry had moved to Malaysia and the Crest Group decided to send that part of the business to Malaysia . The remainder part, which builds plastic assembly equipment, was moved to Cokato in 2001 as part of a cost cutting measure. It has been successful there ever since.

Currently they employ 45 employees; several of whom are working overtime to keep up with the increased demand for their product. This is an increase in production from this time a year ago. The Cokato campus is a total of 35,000 square feet of space located in three buildings in downtown Cokato.

Forward Technology equipment is used all over the world. During the tour the group looked at equipment that was destined for a Ford plant in Argentina . Technicians at the Cokato facility are sent all throughout the U.S.A. and the world to service and install their equipment.

The Wright County Partnership on behalf of Wright County wishes to thank Forward Technology for doing business in Wright County.

Pictured left to right: Don Levens, Curt Dahlen, Brian Kivisto, Chris Schultz, Wayne Bauernschmitt and Brian Streich

 

The Partnership exists to enhance the business climate of Wright County and to help create more jobs in Wright County . The strategies the Partnership uses to achieve its mission include being an information resource and finding technical assistance; aiding business development through Business Retention & Expansion visits, providing financing resources, and providing business information and training through seminars and workshops. Also, the Partnership markets Wright County to business site locators, and maintains an excellent website, which includes a listing of commercial and industrial property available in Wright County (see www.wrightpartnership.org ). The Partnership also assists with Workforce Development and has gathered economic statistical information, which is available on its website.