Components supplier Hickory Springs Mfg. Co. will consolidate all of its research and development efforts at a new Corporate Innovation and Testing Center scheduled to open in December at its headquarters complex in Hickory, N.C.
The majority of the center’s 30,000 square feet will be devoted to lab space for controlled testing of products in all business sectors that Hickory Springs serves—from automotive to home furnishings. About 10,000 square feet will be used for showroom space and conference rooms, allowing customers and vendors to work together on new products, programs and services.
Brad McNeely, a longtime Hickory Springs executive, recently was promoted to the newly created post of vice president of new product development and will oversee operations at the center.
He will work alongside Mike Simmons, who has been named vice president of new market development. Simmons is tasked with increasing customer interaction and integration with new product and business development.
“Because today’s market and customer demands change rapidly, we have a constant need to leverage our expertise and respond quickly,” McNeely said. “Bringing our R&D groups together under one roof enables us to step up our responsiveness and gives us a team that is dedicated full–time to developing new and improved products for existing and future markets.”
