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Craig Ritchie IBI News
Local move provides sailing accessory provider more space while retaining all staff
New Ronstan Building 1
A newer, larger facility will allow Ronstan to leverage future growth opportunities
Sailboat hardware, rigging components and accessories manufacturer Ronstan International has announced plans to relocate its US headquarters at the end of this month.
“We have been looking at moving for some time. When the building that we are located in changed hands and the new landlord indicated some different plans for it, then that helped make our decision,” said Ronstan managing director, Scot West.
“Even though we’ve been in this location for 15 years, the space has never really been ideal for what we need. So we began looking at options and found a very good one that’s literally only two miles up the road from where we are now. It’s a bigger space, and it’s just better formatted for our operation with a better layout for packing, shipping, receiving and warehousing of product.”
The company’s move will keep the firm located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island while allowing Ronstan to retain its entire staff. West told IBI that was a key consideration in selecting a new location. “Apart from the actual act of moving into the new building, there will be zero disruption to any of our staff,” he said. “We have a great team here so that was extremely important.”
He adds that the new location will provide the company with about 25% more space than they presently have, providing Ronstan with opportunities to grow the business while enjoying greater operational efficiency.
“Given everything going on in the world so far this year there was a point where I was thinking to myself, wow, am I really signing a lease in this environment?,” said West. “And when everyone’s already working from home, do we even need office space? But ours is a very hands-on business so yes, we do need the space. When this building became available, especially being located so close by, it really was a perfect fit.”
West notes that the new complex is also home to Quantum Sails and Maritime Solutions, creating a small marine hub in an otherwise industrial area.
In order to accommodate its relocation, Ronstan USA will shut down temporarily from June 26-30, and resume normal operations at its new East Main Road location on July 1.
Ronstan USA is a subsidiary of Melbourne Australia-based Ronstan International Pty Ltd, responsible for all sales and marketing for the company’s Ronstan, Andersen and Robline product lines in North America. The company, with 140 employees worldwide, has additional US facilities in California and Florida.
