BERTRAM YACHT MAKES ITS NEW HOME IN MERRITT ISLAND, FLORID
BERTRAM YACHT MAKES ITS NEW HOME IN MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA
After 50 years in Miami, Florida Bertram Yacht relocates to a new state-of -the-art facility in Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida. May 9, 2012 – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) is proud to announce that Bertram Yacht, an iconic American yacht brand and legendary manufacturer of luxury sport-fishing yachts, will begin relocating from Miami to a new facility in Merritt Island, Florida commencing this June 2012.
The new state-of-the-art boat manufacturing and marina facility in Merritt Island is situated on a 37-acre site which provides significant opportunity for future expansion of the Bertram brand. The property is conveniently located 45 miles from the Orlando airport and within minutes of the open ocean, making the location ideal for product testing, distribution and deliveries throughout Florida and the Eastern Seaboard. The new facility will use environmentally sound manufacturing practices including a low emission, lamination process that incorporates infusion techniques to manufacture fiberglass parts.
Moving the Bertram organization is a significant undertaking. Relocation of the historic Bertram operating and manufacturing functions requires a unique convergence of financial, property and facility components to facilitate such a significant endeavor. The EDC worked closely with the company to develop comprehensive proposals for state and local officials to obtain incentives which will offset the cost of doing business on the Space Coast.
Bertram Yacht will relocate key management and production employees to the new facility, however, the new plant will also draw on the skilled labor force available in the Space Coast region, particularly those with experience in the marine and aerospace sectors, bringing more than 220 jobs to the city of Merritt Island. The new production operation will also create significant demand for parts and services from local suppliers and contractors.
“We at Bertram Yacht deeply value our 50 years of history and culture in the state of Florida and are enthusiastic to remain in the state. We appreciate the EDC’s assistance and look forward to growing in an area with a highly skilled workforce that will help build more competitive yachts well suited for hardcore saltwater sportfishing”, commented Alton Herndon, President for Bertram Yachts. “We also plan to bring many existing Bertram employees to Merritt Island to help establish our roots and keep the Bertram legacy growing”, added Herndon.
Bertram Yachts’ move to Merritt Island serves not only as a new foundation for the company’s future but brings to fruition the successful changes and the new strategy developed and initiated within the last two years by the Bertram Management team. The brand new facility will also be an opportunity to implement new production processes and systems to continuously enhance and innovate the Bertram model range.
The Ferretti Group, one of the world leaders in the construction of motor yachts, and parent company of Bertram Yacht, recognizes the tremendous potential for the Bertram brand and has made a significant investment and commitment to Bertram and the American manufacturing organization. “Bertram is one of the best known yacht brands in the world and we are fully committed to support the Bertram management team as we embark on a new era for this iconic American brand” said Norberto Ferretti, Founder and Chairman of the Ferretti Group.
Bertram will complete the current models in production through the summer of 2012 and will begin relocating key models and production at the new facility during the autumn in preparation to launch the first Merritt Island built models in early 2013.
