Genie Industries rebounds from economic downturn

MOSES LAKE - Although unfavorable market conditions a few years back forced layoffs at Genie Industries, a steady increase in demand for Genie products brought those jobs back.

Glenn Gere, director of operations for Genie's Moses Lake facility, said the plant has seen significant growth over the last few years. Gere spoke at a Grant County Economic Development Council luncheon at Big Bend Community College Thursday.

In 2007, Genie employed about 1,000 Basin residents, Gere said. The economic downturn then caused many of Genie's customers to rethink their purchasing, according to a previous Columbia Basin Herald article.

As a result of reduced production, the plant began laying off employees and reducing company executives' salaries in 2009.

"We went into that economic situation and went down to 200 team members," said Gere. "We were all trying to survive at that time."

He said business began to recover in late 2009.

"Almost immediately after we let the last group go, orders started coming in," he said.

In 2010, Genie brought back the first group of employees that were laid off, Gere said.

"We've been on the steady incline since then," he said. "We've had a rapid growth back to about 1,200 team members in a very short period of time."

In 2007, the plant produced about 30 machines each day, Gere said. Employees currently crank out 38 machines a day, he said.

"That's 60 percent of our capacity right now," Gere said. He expects production to continue to increase over the next few years.

Genie currently occupies a 500,000 square-foot building at the Port of Moses Lake. Gere said the plant manufactures about 16 different models of machines.

The facility contains different assembly areas for various product lines, he said. One of those areas will soon handle production of Genie's new Sx-180 boom lift.

Genie recently introduced the SX-180 lift at a trade show in Munich, Germany, said Gere. At 180 feet, it is the world's tallest self-propelled boom lift, he said.

"We already have orders for 200 to 300 of them and we haven't even built the first one," said Gere. "People can't wait to get their hands on them."

Gere said Genie recently invested in a new paint system which will allow employees to keep up with the anticipated demand.

He also said Genie plans to lease another building from the port to house the company's product development team.

Genie plans to build a new structure on site within the next few years and bring the development team back to that building.

The goal is increase manufacturing space inside Genie's current building, he said.

"There's a lot of growth going on," Gere said.