Littelfuse Startco Opens New Facility in Saskatchewan

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Littelfuse Startco recently celebrated the grand opening of its new facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Among the attendees were members of the local government, more than 150 customers, representation from the world’s leading mining companies including PotashCorp, Agrium, Mosaic and BHP Billiton, as well as executives and associates of Littelfuse, Inc.

“We are also excited about the opportunities we have to extend Littelfuse Startco’s products to current and potential customers in the United States through our well established distribution channels.”

The brand-new 67,500 square foot facility more than doubled the company’s production capacity to meet increased customer demand for its protection relays and custom power centers. The building includes an enlarged engineering area to accommodate future growth, a research and development lab, and an expanded electronics assembly area with upgraded testing equipment. The electronics assembly area includes a burn-in room used to test every Littelfuse Startco electronic product.

“In September of 2008, Littelfuse completed the acquisition of Startco Engineering to complement our technology portfolio and provide our customers with additional protection relay expertise. Today, a year later, I’m pleased to be standing here in this new building that more than doubles our production capacity and has room for us to expand employment, which has increased 20% over the past year,” said Dan Stanek, General Manager of Littelfuse Startco.

“…Startco was acquired by Littelfuse, creating a new relationship, but [is] still providing the same quality service,” added the Honorable Joceline Schriemer, MLA for Saskatoon Sutherland.

Startco Engineering has been a part of the local Saskatchewan economy since 1975. The company produces custom power centers and machine controls for the mining industry, as well as ground-fault and motor protection relays used in a wide range of industrial applications. In 2008, the company was purchased by Littelfuse, the global leader in circuit protection, to compliment its own offering of ground-fault protection products. The acquisition expanded design and manufacturing capabilities for both companies, enabling Littelfuse Startco to offer a broader portfolio of safety related products to its customers.

“The acquisition of Startco Engineering by Littelfuse is a good fit for the customers and employees of both companies. The Startco products expand our line of ground-fault protection products and add the successful custom power centre design and manufacturing capabilities to our electrical business. Startco customers will benefit from our broad portfolio of safety and circuit protection products as well as our global sales and support network,” said Dal Ferbert, Vice President and General Manager of the Littelfuse POWR-GARD Electrical Business Unit. “We are also excited about the opportunities we have to extend Littelfuse Startco’s products to current and potential customers in the United States through our well established distribution channels.”

Other products and services offered by the Littelfuse POWR-GARD Electrical Business Unit include industrial power fuses, fuseholders and safety devices, as well as electrical safety consulting services and worker training.

About Littelfuse

As the worldwide leader in circuit protection products and solutions with annual sales of $530.9 million in 2008, the Littelfuse portfolio is backed by industry-leading technical support, design and manufacturing expertise. Littelfuse products are vital components in virtually every product that uses electrical energy, including automobiles, computers, consumer electronics, handheld devices, industrial equipment and telecom/datacom circuits. Littelfuse offers Teccor^®, Wickmann^®and Pudenz^® brand circuit protection products. In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in Brazil, Canada, China, England, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and the U.S.

For more information, please visit www.littelfuse.com