COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Trident Case, based in Ontario in the County of San Bernardino, has announced plans to move more of its manufacturing to the U.S. from China. The firm acquired a 42,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rancho Cucamonga to facilitate the expansion.
According to Lip Yow, president and founder, Trident Case, the mobile device case manufacturer started operations in 2010 in a 2,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Chino. The firm has now grown to more than 111,000-square feet including its new 42,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Rancho Cucamonga and a 70,000-square-foot corporate office in Ontario. The Rancho Cucamonga facility is now running at 25 percent capacity, with a target of being at full capacity by the end of summer 2014, adding 75 new jobs by the end of the year. The growth is a result of the company’s goal of rapidly moving to onshore 50 to 75 percent of its manufacturing business from China to inland Southern California.
Trident Case is focused on creating the toughest cases available for the ever-expanding mobile device market. Trident Case launched its first two series of protective cases, Kraken and Cyclops, in October 2010, and has grown exponentially month after month ever since. Today, Trident Case’s portfolio includes six different product series, with more than 550 SKU’s that are available across the globe. The cases support a broad range of devices, including Apple iPads and iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, LG Optimus, Motorola Droid and Alcatel One Touch devices.
“Manufacturing in the U.S. can be challenging. Labor, utilities, infrastructure and regulations are all more expensive here when compared to China,” said Yow. “However, there are substantial benefits to manufacturing in the U.S., including tax benefits, significant time and transportation savings, and greater quality control and speed to market.”
Yow added that when he manufactures in the U.S., it creates a domino effect of opportunities that extend far beyond Trident Case.
“Our suppliers of raw materials and their suppliers, our transportation providers, the Cities of Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario, and the State of California, all benefit. For these reasons and many others, Trident Case plans to grow its Proudly Made in the USA portfolio of products, providing additional economic opportunities for Americans,” said Yow.
The Trident Case Proudly Made in the USA program means that products are designed, manufactured and assembled in the US Trident Manufacturing facility. The company’s first Proudly Made in the USA product is the Aegis for the Google Nexus 7 and Kraken A.M.S. for the iPad 2/3/4th generation. Trident Manufacturing partnered with suppliers in the US to source its Made in the US raw materials.
Another major location advantage cited by Yow is that by manufacturing in the U.S., the company’s air freight shipping costs can be reduced by 60 percent. The firm contracts with UPS, located just a few miles from its facility at Ontario Airport, providing a fast turnaround for product delivery.
“Trident Case is a perfect example of how successful an innovative manufacturing company can be in the County of San Bernardino,” said Kelly Reenders, economic development administrator, County of San Bernardino. “While the company benefits from our large workforce and strategic location, our County and City representatives and associated team members have been able to provide significant assistance and resources to help Trident Case to grow and thrive – and more importantly hire more employees to further expand their market share.”
Examples of programs and services benefitting Trident Case include:
County and Rancho Cucamonga representatives introduced Trident Case to California Manufacturing Technology (CMTC), a non-profit program that provides expertise in how to manufacture efficiently. CMTC representatives visited the facility, evaluated operations, and provided recommendations at no cost to Trident Case how to streamline operations
Trident Case is taking advantage of the local Foreign Trade Zone which provides a reduction in cost when importing and exporting. The Zone was put in place to encourage more manufacturing.
The County introduced Trident Case to an on the job training program (OJT) to kick start manufacturing, essentially providing a labor pool and on the job training with wage reimbursement.
The State, County and City are working with Trident Case to acquire support from Southern California Edison (SCE) to offset the utilities expense. Manufacturing during the day requires the company to absorb the highest level of utilities expense. To mitigate utility costs, SCE has a program for qualified businesses within a specific boundary that reduces costs.
Trident Case is getting involved in the Alliance for Education, San Bernardino County's premier partnership between businesses and education communities, fostering STEM learning both in and out of the classroom. In this way, Trident Case is giving back to the community.
The County of San Bernardino provides a thriving, pro-business environment for manufacturing companies. The County continues to focus on attracting new companies, as well as working with existing businesses to give them the necessary resources to grow. Moreover, the County is working aggressively with firms such as Trident Case and Lollicup USA, that are looking to bring their manufacturing operations back to the U.S.
“This is an exciting trend for us. We’re focused on doing our part in programs, training and more to help these manufacturers to realize the very real benefits to bringing more of their operations back to the State,” Reenders added.
About the County of San Bernardino: Located at the heart of Southern California, an economy of 22 million people, the County of San Bernardino is the largest county in the United States. Its vast borders stretch from the greater Los Angeles area to the Nevada border and the Colorado River encompassing a total area of 20,160 square miles. Comprised of 24 cities, the County of San Bernardino encompasses more than two million residents with a workforce exceeding 900,000. Its assets include an innovation corridor of close to two dozen colleges and universities supporting a strong, diverse workforce along with an unparalleled collection of roadways, runways and railways that lead to regional, national and international business centers. One of its transportation assets is the Ontario International Airport featuring the western hub for UPS. Visit www.SBCountyAdvantage.com.