Bluffton motor plant revs up

Published: October 29, 2014 3:00 a.m.

Bluffton motor plant revs up

New-generation pool pump set, could net 50-60 jobs

Paul Wyche | The Journal Gazette

A new line of pool motors is expected to add some zip to sales at a Bluffton business.

Bluffton Motor Works on Tuesday announced plans to launch the AmeriBlue brand at the International Pool Spa Patio Expo in Orlando, Florida, next week. The motor, already in production, is billed as a replacement for the leading industry pool pumps.

David Nussear, president and CEO, said Bluffton Motor Works is excited to ramp up production of the AmeriBlue line.

“Customers have asked us to bring product into this market, and we really felt that the time was right to offer a high quality, durable pool motor to the U.S. consumer that is actually made in the United States,” he said in a statement.

The new line likely will increase revenue by 20 percent to 25 percent over the next few years.

The company also expects to create 50 to 60 jobs during that period.

Bluffton Motor Works recorded more than $60 million in sales last year.

Once a unit of Franklin Electric Co., the company spun off its local production in 2006.

Tom Hart is president of IUE-CWA Local 84802, which represents about 250 hourly workers at the company.

The union leader said he is happy about the expansion but wants to make sure that his union members get first shot at positions, which might offer better hours.

“Its no question that we're going to need more workers,” Hart said.

Production workers' starting pay is $13.75 an hour on average, he said.

Bluffton Motor Works operates out of a 400,000-square-foot plant with more than 300 employees. The company's variable-speed products are used by customers in numerous industries to run machinery such as soft-service ice cream dispensers, coffee grinders, ventilators and fans. 

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