AUBURN HILLS ? In a Southeast Michigan economy still struggling to dig itself out of a prolonged recession, Plex Systems remains an exception. The manufacturing ERP software maker posted a 27 percent revenue growth in 2010 over 2009, President and CEO Mark Symonds predicts another 25 percent revenue increase this year.
While the privately held company does not report revenues and profits, Symonds acknowledged that 2010 revenues were in the low $30 million range. He expects the company to top $40 million in 2011.
?The product is a perfect fit for auto supplies and highly regulated industries,? Symonds said.
?They are running 30 or 40 software systems. We replace them with one solution. It reduces the costs running their businesses – saves them labor on the shop floor, in accounting, and in the front office. Plex Online is what a manufacturer needs to be globally competitive.?
Plex went global I n 2010 when it launched international operations in Germany after receiving certification from the German Institute of Auditors (Institut der Wirtchaftspr�fer in Deutschland e.V.) The certification validates Plex Online?s suitability for use by multinational companies with operations in Germany or by companies headquartered in Germany.
Plex has been growing so fast, it hired 54 new employees in 2010 and could hire around 40 additional employees this year, Symonds said. The new hires should max out a second building that Plex opened in Auburn Hills in 2010. Symonds said he?d love to have all his employees ?in one big building in Auburn Hills area? in the future.
Symonds said this year Plex hopes to continue its build out in the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Just last year, Plex added Meijer Stores, based in Grand Rapids.
?They make baked goods and salads and choose us to manage that process,? he said. ?We want to take advantage of the food safety act just signed and continue this expansion. We?d also like to grow our presence in the electronics industry. Our biggest job is continuing to execute. We think we?ve built a good foundation for growth. We just need to follow through.?
The company added 37 new customers in 2010, including its largest ever, Invensys Controls, a London-headquartered, global technology company focused on industrial automation, rail transportation and controls.
Plex Systems’ new 2010 customers represent a variety of manufacturing industries – food processing, medical devices, automotive, aerospace/defense, industrial, consumer products and more – and locations include companies in Europe, Asia and North America. The following companies joined in the fourth quarter and are implementing Plex Online functionalities:
Tianhai Electric North America – Located in Farmington Hills, Tianhai Electric North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of THB Group of China. The company develops and manufactures electronic components and connectors for the automotive industry. The company will implement the full system of Plex Online solutions.
Climax, LLC – Climax Manufacturing Company, Climax Paperboard Inc. and Climax Packaging Inc. are all owned by Climax LLC with headquarters in Lowville, New York. Climax is a world class manufacturer of folding cartons and recycled paperboard. The Company will implement the full system of Plex Online solutions at all three locations.
Steel Warehouse Profiling – Steel Warehouse Profiling is a wholly-owned business of the Steel Warehouse Company in South Bend, Indiana. It provides steel processing services for production-ready steel to metal stampers, fabricators and manufacturers. The company will implement the full system of Plex Online and Baker Tilly will execute the implementation.
SFI of Tennessee, LLC – SFI is one of the nation?s leading single-source providers of heavy and medium gauge fabrication metal components and value added services used by OEMs in the agricultural, construction, industrial and transportation businesses, along with military contractors in the defense industries. The company will replace Infor?s Visual Enterprise and implement the full system of Plex Online. Baker Tilly will execute the implementation.
Dokka Fasteners Inc. – Dokka Fasteners Inc. is the first manufacturing company established in the U.S. by the Wurth Group. Designed to parallel the Dokka Fasteners facility in Norway, Dokka Fasteners Inc. features a fully automated, robotic hot forging manufacturing process including in-house heat-treating. Dokka has been a proven supplier to the Wind Energy Industry for over 30 years and continually invests in leading edge equipment and technology. Dokka will implement the full system of Plex Online.
Quatro Composites – Quatro Composites, a division of Tec Industries, LLC, is an Iowa-based advanced manufacturer offering a full line of services from design, analysis, prototyping and production of advanced composite products. Quatro manufactures and engineers products for the aerospace, military/defense and medical markets. The company will implement the full system of Plex Online at both company locations.
Allied Alloys – Based in Houston, Texas, Allied Alloys is a scrap metal processing company. The company will implement the full system of Plex Online.
Whitehall Industries – Whitehall Industries is a manufacturer of precision aluminum extrusions and machine-fabricated components. Based in Ludington, Mich., Whitehall Industries is a leader in the manufacturing of automotive sunroof tracks. The company chose Plex Online over Infor and will implement the core system with a plan to add additional functionality in 2011.
Yetter Manufacturing Company – Established in 1930 and based in Colchester, Illinois, Yetter Manufacturing Company is the industry leader in products and attachments that boost productivity and profitability for the agricultural industry. The company will implement the full system of Plex Online.
Ada Technologies – Based in Ada, Ohio, this company manufactures automotive shifters and transmission parts for the automotive industry. The company will implement the full system of Plex Online and Revolution Group will execute the implementation.
Ernie Green Industries, Inc. – Ernie Green Industries, Inc. manufactures and supplies wheel covers, wheel hubs, center caps, vehicle structural products, and other interior and exterior trim parts to the automotive industry. It includes Marion Industries, Plastic Platers and Florida Production Engineering. The company is replacing Infor and will deploy the full system of Plex Online.
A Michigan-based automotive assembly company has chosen Plex Systems for its ERP needs. It will implement the full system of Plex Online.
A Dayton, Ohio-based metalforming manufacturer chose Plex Systems over Epicor and will implement the core system of Plex Online.
Michigan-based manufacturer of energy absorbing bumper systems for the transit industry and engineered stone panels for residential and commercial use will implement the full system of Plex Online.
Many existing customers expanded their use of Plex Online during 2010, further contributing to Plex Systems’ growth. In the fourth quarter, the following companies purchased additional functionalities.
NHK Spring Precision of America, Inc. – This Louisville, Kentucky-based company is a subsidiary of NHK Springs Co, Ltd. and a leading manufacturer of automotive suspension springs, automotive seats, precision spring and components, HDD suspensions and mechanical components and industrial machinery and equipment. In 2010, the company purchased quality, tooling and HR functionalities of Plex Online. Plante Moran is responsible for the deployment.
A supplier of specialized tubular products for the automotive industry has added Plex Online?s finite scheduling functionality to its existing system and will deploy it in all of its U.S. locations.
