LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Contacts:

Bob Heuts, Director
Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant
919-774-8439 (phone)
919-775-5410 (fax)
info@lcedc.com (e-mail)

Media Web:    http://www.lcedc.com/media/
This release: http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr112602.txt
Meikle EMS:   http://www.meikleautomation.com


MEIKLE EMS BREAKS GROUND
ON MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT

SANFORD -- When officials from MeikleEMS broke ground last Friday for 
their new manufacturing plant, the ceremony did not only launch a 
construction project to build the 25,000-square-foot facility.

It also marked the beginning of a transformation that will soon create a 
small manufacturing campus, increase the size of machines built on 
Hawkins Avenue and more than triple the company's current local 
workforce.

Plans began falling into place last spring, soon after Meikle Automation 
Inc. of Kitchener, Canada, acquired Electro-Mechanical Specialties, a 
Sanford-based company manufacturing automated assembly and test systems.

The deal started producing dividends almost immediately.

"EMS has very good will with its customers," said Sandra Macdonald, a 
marketing specialist with Meikle Automation. "People really respect the 
quality of work they were putting out and wanted to give EMS larger 
business. But at that time, EMS didn't have the space to handle some of 
those projects."

Having a larger company partner was attractive to Jerry Pedley, who 
owned Electro-Mechanical Specialties and is now a division manager for 
Meikle Automation. And, Macdonald said, having a larger customer base 
and an established, well-respected additional facility was attractive to 
Meikle.

Now a division of the Canadian corporation, MeikleEMS has already added 
two sales representatives and two application engineers in the Southeast 
to help attract new business. It apparently has worked, because the 
company has already had to expand its local staff from 17, when the 
acquisition became final in March, to the current total of 31.

When the new facility opens around May 1, MeikleEMS expects to have 
about 50 employees in place. They could probably use the help now, 
Pedley said, but there simply is no space for everyone to work. 
Macdonald said the company expects to keep increasing the workforce, 
until it reaches about 100 late in 2003.

Bob Heuts, director of the Lee County Economic Development Corp., said 
the news is good for the entire region.

"The company has always been an asset to Sanford and the surrounding 
area, and we appreciate the contribution they have made over the last 12 
years," Heuts said. "The local expansion is even better news. It means 
more jobs for local families and a stronger tax base, which is good for 
everyone.

"But, most of all, we're thrilled that Meikle recognizes how vibrant 
this area is for business and has made a commitment here for the long 
term."

Once the plant now under construction is finally open, all current 
machinery will be moved to the new space and additional machines will be 
added. With all operations shifted to the new plant, the current 
building in northern Lee County will be renovated with brick fronts to 
match the new construction and then converted to offices.

"Eventually, we hope to have a Meikle campus of sorts," Pedley said. 
"But our first priority is to get the new building open. We're excited 
about being located here in Lee County. It's a good location and a great 
place to do business.

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