General expanding its U.S. sales presence

General International, the Canadian-based machinery manufacturer, is restructuring its U.S. operations in hopes of gaining a greater market share. Company officials say that as cross-border shipping costs, customs clearance bureaucracy and fees continue to rise, it makes sense to bring stock closer to its U.S.-based distributors.

Scott Box, former president of Powermatic and Steel City Tool Works, has assumed the role of operations manager for General's newly expanded U.S. division. Box is currently overseeing the development of General's first U.S.-based warehouse and distribution center. The new facilities will most likely be located in Tennessee, but the exact location and an opening date have yet to be determined.

"The ultimate goal of the distribution center is to maintain adequate supplies of everything that's in our 200-plus page catalog to meet demand," says Norman Frampton, General's product manager.

"Obviously, it will take some tweaking and fine-tuning over time, but it will probably start with regular stock transfers from our Montreal distribution center and we'll move forward from there," says Frampton.

General has also added several new territory sales managers to its existing sales team for coast-to-coast representation.

For information, visit www.general.ca.