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EBONITE INTERNATIONAL FEATURED ON CNN’S ANDERSON COOPER 360
Jun 07, 2011
HOPKINSVILLE, KY – Ebonite International’s new Ebonite Bowling Center Direct pin manufacturing facility will be featured on June 7th on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360.
Producer Katie Ross works on a series titled “Building Up America” with reporter Tom Foreman.
“We heard what was going on and thought this would be great for this series,” said Ross. “The series takes a look at businesses, individuals and communities that are doing well right now despite what’s going on in the economy.”
In December, Ebonite International announced that it had purchased the Diamond Duramid pin plant from IQ Bowling Industries and was planning to relocate the facility at one of their five buildings in Hopkinsville, KY.
“When you look at the total costs of doing business,” explained Randy Schickert, CEO, “we were able to save a great deal in transportation and labor costs by moving the company to the US. By using the Lean Manufacturing principles we apply in our ball plant, we’re going to be able to produce a great quality product here in the US, for the same labor dollars, using a fraction of the manpower. It may not work for everyone, but it definitely made sense for us.”
Foreman interviewed both Schickert and Pete Moyer, Director of Ebonite Bowling Center Direct, and toured the pin facility with Operations Manager Ben Rogers.
“We’re in the final stages of earning USBC approval for these pins,” said Moyer. “Once approval is granted, we’ll be able to begin making pins full time. Currently we’ve only made pins for testing purposes.”
The series will air on June 7, 2011, during the 11:00 EST hour, and will then re-air periodically across the CNN network.
“With all the hard work we’ve done and the rigorous testing these pins have been through, it’s nice to have some recognition that we’re doing the right thing,” said Schickert. “It hasn’t been easy, but in the end, we’re bringing jobs and manufacturing back to America, and that’s what counts.”
About Ebonite International
Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets domestically and internationally. The company’s consumer product brands include Ebonite,Hammer,Robby’s,Columbia 300,Track and Powerhouse™; its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.
