Gefran renews emphasis in North America

The company is the North American subsidiary of Gefran S.p.A. (www.gefran.com) in Italy, which recorded sales of an estimated U.S.$160 million last year. Nine production sites worldwide employ 900 people.

The Italian company is renewing an emphasis in North America, according to Alfredo Sala, chief executive officer of Gefran S.p.A.. He says, “We see major opportunities for Gefran in this market, particularly in the area of automation control systems.”

According to Kirleis, North American sales are around U.S.$15 million to U.S.$18 million; 50 people are employed in the U.S., where the company makes sensors, pressure transducers, thermocouples and other melt pressure products, as well as linear position sensors. Drive and motion control products such as servodrives, inverters, converters and positioning motors are manufactured in Charlotte, N.C.

 Other products made at both facilities include components for automation—operator interface panels, controllers, timers, alarm units, remote input/output terminals.