I’ve been saying for some time now that it would be nice to see more jobs coming out of the industry, as more companies not only recover from the recession but jump right out of it with record earnings. And slowly but surely, it seems that hiring is picking up. I’m a member of several fluid power groups on
LinkedIn and perhaps one of the most popular discussion posts lately has been job postings from both companies and recruiters.
These jobs range from sales engineer to hydraulic system engineer, business development director down to automation engineers.
And last week came the news that Bosch Rexroth Corp. will be doubling its production at its Fountain Inn, S.C., plant, with an $80 million infusion in a new building and 160 new jobs in the next five years. The facility produces hydraulic components for the North and South American markets.
Berend Bracht, regional president of Bosch Rexroth Americas, attributes the future growth to double-digit percentage increases in sales and orders this year. “Bosch Rexroth has gained additional market share, especially in the field of mobile machines for agriculture and construction,” said Bracht. “We adapted to the technological shift toward low-emission machines early on and can now offer the right products and solutions at the right time.”
All manufacturers of mobile machines are currently revising their concepts in order to meet the new, significantly more stringent TIER 4 Final emissions regulations for off-highway vehicles. Bosch Rexroth offers a complete series of innovative system solutions for working and drive hydraulics that help achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions for mobile machines—while at the same time maintaining the machines’ operational performance level. The axial piston pumps made by Bosch Rexroth in Fountain Inn are a core component of this approach. They are also used in energy-efficient stationary applications.
The outfitting of the additional building with production machines is set to be completed in the third quarter of 2012.
Let’s hope we hear more reports like this and start to see unemployment figures slowly (or quickly!) drop.
