CRL Announces September 1 Opening of Branch Distribution Facility Near Miami

Los Angeles-based C.R. Laurence Co. Inc. (CRL) is opening a brand new branch distribution facility on September 1. The new high-cube 55,000-square-foot facility is located in Sunrise, Fla., northwest of Miami and west of Ft. Lauderdale. This new branch will serve all of South Florida, and will export orders to customers Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The company's Orlando branch will continue to serve Central and Northern Florida.

"This move brings our operations closer to our customers in southern Florida," says Donald E. Friese, CRL's chairperson and chief executive officer. "The construction of this facility demonstrates our deep commitment to the Florida market, as well as to our export customers in the Caribbean and Latin America.

New shipping equipment and computer systems assist in quick UPS and export delivery to customers. Because it is a high-cube warehouse, the facility can accommodate a large inventory, providing customers with ready access to the products and supplies they need. Six days a week the "will call" department allows customers to pick up orders onsite. In addition, the facility has a showroom display area where customers can see many of the company's newest products, including full size working models of CRL's architectural hardware products, shower door hardware, railing systems and transaction hardware.

"We have enjoyed many years in the Orlando area, and are pleased to be expanding our capabilities in Florida," Friese adds. "This area is a major growth market, and is very important to our own advancement as the leading supplier to the glass industry. This facility not only raises our level of service to our customers in that region, but is also a good business decision."

Jack Devine serves as Branch Manager of the new facility, which is located in the Saw Grass International Corporate Park of Sunrise.