Motion Labs Recovery from COVID-19

	Motion Laboratories says they have started growth campaigns that include new markets, and a new R&D and learning center.

In March 2020, Motion Laboratories was in the process of implementing the most significant expansion effort in its 30-year history. Then COVID-19 hit New York State, the nation and the world. Now 18 months later, having survived the worst of the pandemic, the executives of the Westchester County, NY-based full-service fabrication and assembly firm say they have started growth campaigns that include new markets, a new R&D and learning center and a resolute belief in the company's future.

Peter Herrmann, president and CEO of Motion Laboratories, says the pandemic hit hard, but the company, whose clients include Broadway and television shows as well as touring acts, survived the shutdowns and is now poised to dust off its expansion plans and chart a new course for its future and help its clients safely re-open their businesses as well.

Herrmann says that the company is wary about the COVID-19 Delta variant's impact on the economy and is hopeful that "we have learned from the past and can navigate through this in a more intelligent manner as time goes on". Motion Labs is financially in position to begin its recovery from the pandemic and once again move forward on its growth plans.

After several heart-to-heart discussions with executive staff, Herrmann says they now firmly believe that, while the company must remain cautious, it can begin to once again put in place -- the visions and aspirations -- it had previously. He notes that many of its customers, particularly touring acts, are pointing to 2022 as the beginning of their COVID recovery, which Herrmann agrees will also hold true for Motion Laboratories.

The company was founded in 1985 and produces high quality portable electrical power distribution systems, electric chain hoist control systems, weight monitoring systems, metering equipment, testing equipment and cable assemblies. The firm, which was focused almost exclusively on the entertainment industry, is now expanding its product lines to serve all industry segments in the entertainment market as well as the general business community wherever portable electrical power distribution, electric chain hoist control systems and other associated accessories are needed. The company's products are critical to live touring, theatre, exhibition halls and corporate business presentations. The firm also offers rigging safety and OEM private labeling services. In 2017, Motion Laboratories acquired So-Cal Value Added LLC, in Camarillo, CA, a high-tech manufacturer that services the military, aerospace and Information Technology sectors.

Herrmann, along with Motion Laboratories executive team consisting of chief operating officer John Coppolecchia, chief administrative officer Alycia Overmyer and chief learning officer David Herrmann, are in lockstep moving forward with expansion that began in 2019 with leasing a new 40,000-sq.-ft. facility in nearby Peekskill, NY. The firm currently occupies half of the building and manages the property and is in contract to acquire the building outright in 2030. The company's headquarters at 520 Furnace Dock Road in Cortlandt Manor totals 30,000 sq. ft.

Motion Labs spent approximately $2 million prior to March 2020 on its expansion program. Herrmann noted that the expansion to Peekskill was done with the expectation of growing the company's product lines and services. The plan called for the Cortlandt Manor facility to become the hub for its fabrication, machine shop and painting operations. The new Peekskill building on John Walsh Boulevard would become the company's sales headquarters and the south portion of the building would house assembly operations currently located at the Cortlandt Manor building. The northern half of the Peekskill property hosts the company's new learning center where customers can take classes on how to operate, repair and trouble-shoot equipment in a "hands-on" setting. "It's our R&D lab, it's our learning center and it's our gateway to customers being able to see all of Motion Labs' equipment in one place," he adds.

The company, with the assistance of AJ Ross Creative Media of Chester, NY is redesigning its website into a fully automated e-commerce site. It launched an awareness campaign to help companies that were shut down in 2020 safely reopen and continue moving their brand forward.