Kingfield plant manager Cameron Lorrain (left) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins hold the North American national award.
By David Hart
Mountaineer Staff
KINGFIELD — In just two short years, the Poland Spring bottling facility in Kingfield gained recognition as being the best in the nation by it’s parent company, Nestlé Waters North America.
Today, the company was joined by community and municipal leaders, residents, staff and supporters in recognition of the national award, “Best Factory in North America.”
“There is four criteria which brings you “Factory of the Year,” said Brian Flaherty, Director of Public Affairs, Nestle Waters North America “They are quality, effectiveness, safety and cost management … There are probably 70 factors which deserves this Kingfield factory,” he said … And he named off a dozen first names as examples.
Poland Spring Bottling facility in Kingfield.
United States Senator Susan Collins joined leadership from Nestle Waters North America (NWNA), plant staff and local community leaders in Kingfield, Maine to celebrate the Poland Spring Kingfield Plant’s “Best Factory in North America” award.
As a testament of its success, within the last three months, the plant has added 22 new jobs and its two bottling lines will soon begin operating 24 hours a day. Senator Collins recognized Poland Spring for its investment in Maine with a Congressional sentiment.
“In just over two years and in challenging economic times, you have turned Poland Spring’s newest plant into the Best Factory of the Year and have grown from fewer than 40 employees to 70 current workers. This is an outstanding record of accomplishment and growth in such a short time, and I’m delighted to visit the Kingfield facility and meet the people and community responsible for its stunning success.
Thanks to an investment of over $60 million from Nestle Waters North America and support from the local community – over 700 people applied for the Kingfield plant’s first 36 jobs – the plant opened its doors in January 2009. In the two years since its opening, the Franklin County plant has nearly doubled the total number of employees from 36 to 70, and despite being the smallest NWNA plant in the United States and the most rural of all Poland Spring’s Maine plants, this month NWNA named it the 2010 “Best Factory of the Year”.
Cameron Lorrain, Kingfield Plant Manager said, “The Kingfield success story is indicative of what we all know about the quality and determination of our state’s work force — and especially the people of Kingfield and Franklin County. The warm reception we got from the people here has helped put this plant on top.”
Poland Spring hired 100 construction workers from local contractors to build the plant, and 40 Maine companies were utilized during construction, many from Franklin County. Notably, last year the Kingfield plant earned LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council making it the first and only manufacturing plant in Maine to achieve this distinction.
About Poland Spring:
Since 1845, Poland Spring has been investing in Maine and creating good jobs using an abundant, renewable resource. Poland Spring operates three bottling plants in Poland Spring, Hollis and Kingfield. Poland Spring operates additional spring sources in Fryeburg, Poland, Dallas Plantation, Pierce Pond Township, Denmark and St. Albans. Most recently, Poland Spring invested $4.1 million in a spring water station project in Fryeburg.
Read more about the Maunfacturing Excellence Award from the Bangor Daily News HERE.
Visit the Sun Journal article HERE. The Online Sentinel HERE. Daily Bulldog HERE.
Poland Spring:
• Employs nearly 800 full-time and seasonal workers across Maine
• Has invested over $500 million in capital in Maine since 1998
• Contributes nearly $40 million to the economy in annual payroll
• Spends almost $65 million directly with other Maine companies each year
• Has invested over $4.1 million in community giving since 2000 to support schools, fire and rescue, environmental conservation, and many local and statewide causes
About the Kingfield plant:
• The Kingfield facility, which officially opened in January 2009, represents a $60 million investment and 70 jobs in western Maine.
• Poland Spring spent more than $19 million (about 75% of our total construction cost) with local Maine companies.
• Poland Spring hired 100 construction workers from local contractors to build the plant.
• 40 Maine vendors were utilized during construction, many from Franklin County.
• The Kingfield plant is the first manufacturing facility in Maine to earn LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council.
