Kiva plans hiring spurt for expanded site

July 3, 2011, 8:24 pm

Kiva Systems Inc. said it expects to add 100 new employees in Massachusetts in the coming year following the company’s expansion into a 160,000-square-foot facility in North Reading. The warehousing technologies company finished the move from its 30,000-square-foot facility in Woburn this month, CEO Mick Mountz said in an interview. The planned move to North Reading was first disclosed last July. Kiva has already hired 100 workers in Massachusetts over the past 12 months, bringing its current headcount in the state to 205. The company produces material handling systems, centered around mobile robots, that are used by online retailers to speed up their order fulfillment process. “We’re not seeing anybody approaching the problem the same way we have,” Mountz said. Founded in 2003, Kiva already counts more than 10 percent of the top 100 online retailers as customers — including the Gap, Staples, Saks 5th Avenue and Gilt Groupe. Revenue for Kiva doubled in 2010, and the company is poised to double its revenue again this year while also reaching profitability, Mountz said. The new facility is located at 300 RiverPark Drive in North Reading, and will officially open with an event on Tuesday. The facility contains 120,000 square feet of manufacturing and demonstration space along with 40,000 square feet of office space, Mountz said. Kiva Systems is backed by $33 million in venture capital, with Bain Capital Ventures and Meakem Becker Venture Capital as investors.

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