Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Kennebec Journal Staff
SKOWHEGAN — The story of the New Balance Athletic Shoe Co. will be told at 7 tonight on the History Channel, during an episode of "Modern Marvels: Made in the USA."
The Boston-based company with an outlet store and factory in Skowhegan and offices and a factory in Norridgewock, is the only athletic footwear company still making shoes in the United State, according to the company website. The company also has a Maine factory in Norway.
"Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, the United States has stamped, carved, cut, built and assembled its way into becoming the superpower of product production," the company says in promotional material for the upcoming episode of "Made in the USA."
"However, in the last 20 years, the 'Made in America' tag began to fade as the manufacturing landscape of industry went overseas. "So what is still Made in the USA?"
New Balance shoes, that's what. Worldwide sales have increased from $210 million in 1991 to $1.64 billion in 2008, according to the website.
The History Channel segment will feature New Balance employees making a sneaker from start to finish. Interviews include Skowhegan plant manager Patrick Welch of Readfield.
For programming information go to www.history.com, and to watch a 2009 video about New Balance go to www.newbalance.com.
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