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Company: International Armoring Corporation, Ogden, Utah
Company Description: International Armoring Corporation (IAC) has grown to be the premier manufacturer of armored passenger vehicles in the world. Known for their use of light weight armoring materials and prorietary designs, IAC's vehicles are lighter, offer better protection and maintain their original appearance. IAC has placed manufaturing plants and service facilities in 14 different countries.
Nomination Category: Company & Office Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Multinational Company in North America
Nomination Title: International Armoring Corporation
1. Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
International Armoring Corporation (IAC) was founded in 1993 in Ogden, Utah.
Throughout the past 15 years IAC has continued to grow and become an innovative
leader among the armoring industry. IAC has customized the armoring process
leading to new standards and methods of armoring. Because of this growth and
innovation, IAC has created 15 manufacturing/servicing facilities during the
past 15 years. This was done as a necessity to help satisfy IAC’s global market
and exceed customer’s expectations. The majority of armored vehicles are
exported abroad so these foreign manufacturing facilities were created to
manufacture IAC’s superior product abroad and to provide service to the already
existing vehicles throughout the world.
With facilities from Ogden to Tianjin and Spain to Johannesburg, this allows IAC
to bring the design and protection closer to the end user and better compete
against competition. The success of these facilities greatly lies in the methods
of production. The majority of the foreign facilities are production line type
of facility verses a team cell. All armoring components are designed and
prepared in the Ogden facility then shipped to the various locations throughout
the world. Following the pattern established, each IAC foreign facility
receives pre-designed armoring kits for a variety of different models. Base
chassis’ are shipped directly from the manufacturer to the plant where the
installation process begins and ends. Local, in country, IAC trained labor is
used to install these designed armoring kit components. The entire process is
managed and overseen by U.S. managers that live in the various countries.
Benefits: 1). Decrease in shipping time, costs and taxes 2). In-country
competitive advantage – U.S. based International manufacturer/technology over
local in-country only manufacturer.
The IAC’s worldwide growth through use of these foreign operations is
recognizable on multiple levels. The overall percentage of armored vehicles
being done by these locations is now 73% of IAC’s overall production. This is
an increase by 22% from those manufactured abroad in 2006. Several of these
facilities have become nationally recognized by the countries in which they are
located. Employment has remained steady as both skill level and productivity
efficiency has increased, producing more vehicles with the same number of
employees. This growth will continue in the years to come. In addition, new
model lines have been added to the various facilities and will continue to be
added to meet the needs of expanding client base demands.
During 2007 IAC received recognition for their international successes. In 2007
numerous news articles were written as well as spots on the Discovery, History
and Science channels were broadcast. IAC was awarded the “IQ Innovator Award”
from the State of Utah. The governor of Utah declared IAC as one of “the best
of the best (managed companies) in the state of Utah.” IAC won 2007 Best of
State “International Business” award – a 7 time recipient. In 2007 IAC received
International recognition by winning the International Stevie Award. These
awards are just to name a few that IAC has been recognized with throughout the
years.
2. List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
Link 1-Armormax Website/Awards: http://www.armormax.com/
Link 2-2007 International Stevie Award:
http://www.stevieawards.com/pubs/iba/awards/408_2300_16199.cfm
Link 3-Small Business of the Year:
http://www.armormax.com/Small_Business_Award.htm
Link 4-Photo Gallery: http://www.internationalarmoringcorporation.com/15.aspx
Link 5-Movie Gallery: http://www.internationalarmoringcorporation.com/16.aspx
Link 7-Second Website: http://www.internationalarmoringcorporation.com/
3. Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:
Mark F. Burton is the founder of International Armoring Group Holdings Inc. He
is a member of Brigham Young University’s Founder’s club, and sits on the
University’s President Council. He currently serves, on a number of Boards, and
is a partner in the Utah Angel investor group. Mr. Burton has received
numerous awards including Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” and
CMA’s “Financial Executive of the Year”. He has been interviewed and featured
in over 100 different media stories including Business Week, Newsweek, Time
Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Popular Mechanics, and the Discovery and
Travel Channels.
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