Webex acquires Fox Companies Machining

Webex’s purchase of Fox Companies Machining assets creates a larger local company with greater financial stability and increased job security. Webex, Inc., a manufacturer of precision rolls and custom web handling machinery located in Neenah, Wisconsin, has announced the purchase of Fox Companies Machining, Inc., a roll manufacturer and specialty machine shop located in Greenville. Terms of the sale were not disclosed, but will include all of the company’s stock and assets, including the 35,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Greenville. The sale closed on June 30, 2003.

Through the acquisition, the companies’ product lines will not change, but Fox’s name will be changed to Fox Machining, a division of Webex. Since 1972, Webex has specialized in engineering precision rolls and web handling machinery. Its customer base is primarily in North America and includes both small and large converting operations and machinery OEMs. Fox, started in 1994, has specialized in the manufacture of precision rolls and CNC machined components, serving customers throughout the Midwest.

Through this acquisition, Webex has broadened its capabilities of roll manufacturing and CNC machining.

At this point, company officials plan to maintain operations at both the Fox plant in Greenville and the Webex plant in Neenah. The acquisition has, however, caused some duplication of positions between the two facilities. Paul Schulz, president of Webex, explains, ‘As long as business levels stay as they are, we will continue to operate both facilities. And while it’s true there have been a few layoffs caused by redundancy of job positions, it has been minimal and we don’t anticipate anything further. In the end, we are striving to create a company with greater financial stability that will further increase job security in the future.’