PORTLAND, Ore. -- Danner boots just got a good swift kick to the bottom line thanks to a new $8 million contract.
This comes as Portland's only footwear manufacturer expands with more square footage, but more importantly more people.
The new facility on NW Portal Way in Portland is nearly double the size of Danner's old facility on Airport Way. The open floor plan allows for more flexibility in the manufacturing process.
"This is a 59,000 square foot facility," said Ross Vonhoff, senior Vice President of Operations with Danner Boots. "We have the space not only to handle second shift we were doing in our old facility, but also add a third if needed."
It takes craftsmen from 27 countries, two shifts, six days a week to make a Danner boot.
"We're hope full to get down from what is approximately four days today to under one day," said Vanoff.
The first product off the line this week is the combat hiker. It's a tailored hiking boot the company has been making for sometime.
But, now it will be used to help U.S. Army soldiers in Afghanistan. Danner received an $8 million contract to supply an undisclosed number of boots within the next 90 days.
Military contracts are nothing new for Danner. They've been booting up the Army and the Marines since 2006.
"It has to be made, grown, manufactured and made in the United States", said David Carlson, Executive Vice President of Danner.
It's one of the few military boots allowed to carry a company logo.
This latest contract is a top priority. For workers it will mean more hours and eventually more jobs.
Made in the USA is now creating more demand here and elsewhere for Danner products.
"We're looking at products that we are currently manufacturing overseas and bringing those back to the U.S. to be able to do that here because of that demand," noted Vonhoff.
Another sign Danner is stepping it up, the company has also expanded it's factory story. It's located across the street from it's former store on Airport Way. The expanded footprint is a museum and a showcase the future for a company that's been giving people the boot since 1932.
The company is ready to hire an additional 25 skilled footwear craftsmen. They have a need for sewers and leather cutters among other positions.
