Petter Nordli just moved to America and he brought his family’s business with him.
Nordli is part of the third generation in his family to work for Loxy, the performance clothing supply company his grandfather founded in a garage in Halden, Norway, in the 1970s. Now the company is opening its first production site in the U.S. in Columbus.
Loxy makes products that supplement high performance clothing. They produce high quality reflective and seam sealing tapes. But Nordli is here to expand Loxy’s newest business, screen-printing and logo production.
Loxy has taken over the old Langford Furniture building at the corner of Military and Bluecutt roads. Nordli said they have totally renovated the 6,000 square foot building and plan to start production next month.
Loxy will employ six people in Columbus. Nordli said he will be the only Norwegian working here.
For the 23-year-old it is an opportunity to build his addition to the family business — he was charged with expanding into screen-printing and logo making and bringing the company into the Western Hemisphere.
When his grandfather started the company, he was making pockets for jeans. Nordli’s father developed their reflective and seam sealing tape business and expanded the company into Portugal, Poland, Sweden and China. Screen-printing gives Nordli a chance to attract growth for the family business.
“We are always trying to be where our customers are,” Nordli said. “We wanted to expand in this continent.”
Their new customer is the U.S. Army. Loxy will be printing logos for the military, and to sell to the military, production must occur in the U.S.
Nordli said the majority of the equipment Loxy will use has been delivered, but they are still waiting on a few pieces. The machinery is sophisticated, which reduces the amount of staff Loxy will have to hire here in Columbus.
Columbus may seem like an odd place to build the first Loxy production site in the U.S., but Nordli said it is perfect for their company. He said he enjoys the small town lifestyle and the friendly people. He said being in a smaller town makes it easier to meet good business partners.
“It reminds me of my hometown,” Nordli said.
From a logistical standpoint, Loxy hopes a location in the middle of North America will allow them to expand their brand. Their biggest American client right now is Red Wing Shoes, a Minnesota-based company.
He hopes Loxy will be able to attract new clients.
“This is our big first step into America,” Nordli said. “Everything is new now for us.”
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