E. K. Blessing to Relocate and Expand – Outsourcing abruptly came to an end
According to a WNDU story, Elkhart musical instrument maker E.K. Blessing’s new owner, Powell Flutes, Inc., of Massachusetts, has decided to end its outsourcing and sell only what it makes. 
Musical instrument manufacturer, E.K. Blessing Company has plans to relocate and expand. According to Blessing’s application for tax abatement, 22-additional full time jobs would be created in the move. Blessing now employs 20-people at its plant on Beardsley, although only seven of those employees are full time.
Blessing wants to move to a building at 2995 Paul Drive, formerly occupied by Damon. Blessing plans to spend $300-thousand making improvements to the building and $1.5 million on new equipment. Right now, Blessing makes trumpets, trombones and other instruments at its Elkhart plant, and many of those products are shipped overseas. “Last night, we just loaded up a large order of instruments that left for Indonesia, just today we loaded up another large order of instruments that left for Germany,” said Blessing Company General Manager Steve Rorie.
Blessing is done “shipping overseas” its production—and the jobs associated with it. Outsourcing abruptly came to an end when a new owner came into the picture. Last fall, Blessing was purchased by Powell Flutes, Inc., head quartered in Massachusetts.
“As of the acquisition close in October, our President Steve Wasser made the decision that Blessing would no longer import musical instruments—that we will now only sell what we make,” Rorie said. The ‘All American’ directive has Blessing looking to make a move into a larger building. The Paul Drive facility is two and a half times bigger than Blessing’s current facility. That’s big enough to handle the new production that would be moved to Elkhart.
