A ceremonial groundbreaking marked the beginning of $900,000 project

Mayor Scott Avedisian and Thomas Kearney, president and CEO of Kearflex Engineering, Inc., today led a ceremonial groundbreaking to mark the $900,000 expansion of the company’s Cypress Street manufacturing facility.
 
A corporate leader in certification to the international ISO 9000 standard, Kearflex’s products are used on military and commercial aircraft in critical flight applications, including air data computers and instrumentation and cabin pressure systems. A family-owned company for 46 years (37 of them in Warwick), Kearflex has also been recognized by a major military aircraft manufacturer for its “ship to stock” quality program – a demonstrated quality honor held by only a few in the entire vendor base.

Its engineering team has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge sensor technology with worldwide use in a broad range of advanced applications, such as commercial and military aircraft cabin control and safety systems. Its wide range of products also includes: sensor packs for ejection seats that protect pilots after an emergency egress; diaphragms that monitor eye fluid pressure during cataract surgery; components used in the International Space Station’s cooling system controls; sensors that measure pressure in processing plant flow measurement applications; diesel generator protection in remote oil pumping rigs; and pneumatic leveling pressure capsules for use in circuit board manufacturing.

The expansion will add another 5,800 square feet to the existing 10,000 square-foot facility, with 2,300 square feet dedicated to storage and the remainder designed as shipping/receiving, quality control, engineering lab and sensor production areas. Total cost is estimated at $900,000. Preliminary work, such as permitting and site clearing, has begun, with an estimated project completion date of March. Providence-based L.A. Torrado Associates is the architect, and Mill City Builders of Lincoln is the contractor.

In addition to generating new jobs and promoting stability for the company’s future, the expansion, Kearney said, will allow Kearflex “to continue building on our core strengths and to move forward using innovative thinking and contemporary technology to build new products that have applications in industrial and commercial markets.”

“I’m so pleased to be here today to congratulate Kearflex,” Avedisian said. “The fact that they are continuing to grow and expand, particularly in this economy, is a reflection of their commitment to customer service, their insistence on excellence and a continued desire to lead their industry with innovative products that use the most modern technology. We’re proud that they have been a part of our business community for nearly 40 years, and I wish them all the best for even greater success and growth in the future.”

Critical to Kearflex’s longevity and success, Kearney said, is a continued emphasis on hard work, perseverance, innovation, and recognition of the unique qualities each employee brings to the company. Excluding the second- and third-generation family members who own and manage Kearflex, there are 25 people on the employee roster – all of whom have been with the company for at least 10 years, and more than half of whom have a quarter-century’s time invested in Kearflex.

“The past 35 years have been typical for a small business, with good and bad years, but we are proud to say that we have never used layoffs to cut costs in slow times,” Kearney said. “The importance of each employee has been a cornerstone of our corporate philosophy and, we believe, key to our longevity in business and continued growth.”

As with many small businesses, Kearflex – founded by Robert Kearney with a few loans from family members – struggled in its early years. With the Vietnam War came a demand for instruments supplied to military aircraft, which grew company sales and – with the help of an SBA loan – led to the construction of the existing Cypress Street facility.

“Today, we are active in developing products that have commercial viability in new and emerging markets, and continue to support our longtime customer base with our trademark, high-quality product lines,” he said.

Contact: Sue Baker/Warwick, 738-2000, ext. 6205
Thomas Kearney/Kearflex, 781-4900