OZ Lifting opens new Minnesota facility
OZ Lifting Products LLC hosted the grand opening of its new, 40,000-square-foot facility in Winona, Minnesota, on October 7. The celebration included an official ribbon-cutting led by the Winona Area Chamber of Commerce and its Ambassadors.
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Steve Napieralski, president at OZ Lifting |
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| The building is four times larger than the previous facility. |
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| The new facility sits on a five-acre lot. |
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| OZ Lifting opened its new 40,000-square-foot facility on Innovation Drive in Winona, Minnesota, on October 7. |
OZ Lifting, a manufacturer of davit cranes and industrial lifting equipment, was started in December 2004 with two staff – today, it has 30 full-time employees and a global distributor network.
The new facility sits on a five-acre lot and is primed to facilitate further expansions. This is the fourth time the company has relocated.
The facility was officially opened at 3 p.m. by Christie Ransom, Chamber President and CEO, who presented the company's president, Steve Napieralski, with a commemorative plaque. Minnesota Senator Jeremy Miller also attended, as well as representatives from local universities and colleges; selected trade press; and local dignitaries.
“Our move to the new Innovation Drive facility has been a real step forward — and to formally open it among such esteemed company is a landmark moment in our history," said Napieralski. "The building is four times larger than our previous space, which has given us room to grow and work more efficiently. Winona is a small community and it’s exciting that we will continue to be able to call it home.”
Guests and media enjoyed refreshments and a private guided tour in the morning – doors opened to the public at noon and lunch was provided by local food truck.
Visitors were guided through the lifecycle of a product, beginning with research and development in engineering, moving into prototyping and validation testing, then on through manufacturing, assembly, rigging, quality assurance load testing, and finally shipping.
They also had opportunities to interact with a variety of davit cranes and base styles, along with hoists, clamps, trolleys, and winches. Recent innovations include the 250-lb. capacity parapet davit crane base, which is compatible with the XR Series 250 davit crane, and can be temporarily installed on rooftops without causing damage on installation or removal. Attendees will be able to see the Tele-Pro davit crane, leveraging the benefits of the company’s other davits, while telescoping the boom in and out under load; and the Alumi-Lite davit, crafted from lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum, and offering exceptional durability without compromising on ease of transport.
“A former water-testing pit in the warehouse is being reimagined as a dedicated live-lift testing area," said Napieralski. "Plans include a mezzanine, product testing stand, and a monorail for operator fall protection. These additions will significantly advance our in-house testing capabilities and strengthen the reliability and safety standards our products are known for.”
Guests had the chance to meet Trace Erickson, a former law enforcement officer, who guides dogs funded by OZ Lifting through the Code Blue K9 program. OZ Lifting, a serial philanthropist, has committed to funding training for a new police dog every year.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The September/October issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about American Producers Supply. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
