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Last updated 6:38 am CT February 09, 2010.
Crownline Boats In Germany
WEST FRANKFORT, Ill --We often hear about companies moving jobs overseas, but one Southern Illinois company is making a big splash in Europe while keeping local jobs from becoming awash.
The boats are being called the Mercedes of the water in Europe and the Middle East... That's according to Kevin Riem, Vice President and General Manager of Crownline Boats in West Frankfort.
He says the international market affects jobs here. "The export business is usually the larger boat service. Those larger boats require a lot of labor hours and man hours so the construction of these larger boats is just healthy for the area and for Crownline Boats," said Riem.
Crownline's biggest customer is Gunter Siegel of Germany. The company estimates that Siegel purchases 20 million a year on boats from the business and distributes them overseas.
To put that in perspective it is about one out every seven boats Crownline makes. "I am just here to say thank you to all the people to make such a good boat," said Siegel.
Sigel says the reason these boats are so popular in Europe is because they are luxurious. Employees put the finishing touches on these boats. Carefully buffing them and preparing them to be shipped overseas. Siegel says its this quality that makes the boats so hot.
"The European customer prefers to have style. The way the boats are looking is the way the customers want it" said Sigel.
Johnny Baker has worked for Crownline for 17 years. He's thrilled people in other countries think so highly of the boats. "When they get in one of our boats, they know that product comes from the United States," said Baker.
Baker says it's the Made in the USA sticker on the window of the boats that makes him proud.
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