The sealing specialist’s 26-acre North American manufacturing and service centre will remain in Morton Grove.
Founded in the Chicagoland area in 1917, today John Crane has more than 230 offices in over 50 countries worldwide. The company, which is part of the Smiths Group, employs around 7000 people and had 2012 revenues of more than US$1.5 billion.
John Crane president and CEO Duncan Gillis said downtown Chicago was a perfect fit for the company to expand its corporate headquarters and recruit professional talent. “It is a diverse and vibrant city attractive to our employees and also our global customers visiting who will have access to our headquarters and nearby North America manufacturing and service centre,” said Gillis.
Philip Bowman, CEO of Smiths Group, said: “Although Smiths is a truly global company, our businesses have deep roots in the United States. None more so than John Crane which, from its base near Chicago, has grown to become a world leader in its specialist sector. Establishing its global headquarters in the heart of the city underlines our commitment both to Chicago and the United States.”
