Jotul North America recently moved to an 117,000-square-foot factory in Gorham.

On Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 2 p.m., there was a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new factory located at 55 Hutcherson Drive in the Gorham Industrial Park.

Jotul ASA is a Norwegian based corporation, the oldest and largest producer of cast-iron stoves in the world. Jotul North America, a fully owned subsidiary of Jotul ASA, was founded in 1980 and is the company’s North American headquarters.

Jotul moved to their new location in Gorham from two 40,000-square-foot buildings in Portland and Westbrook. The move allowed for enhanced “synergy and communication,” within the factory, said Jotul North America President Bret Watson.

Much time and money was spent trucking materials and finished products between the Portland and Westbrook factories. Now, with one factory large enough to house the whole operation, employees can see “the raw material turn into finished goods. There is much better material coordination,” said Watson. From the new headquarters, Watson said the company could control its own destiny.

With the help of 65 employees and state of the art facilities, Jotul North America manufactures 14 different gas stoves, inserts and fireplaces, and one wood stove.

Over 31,000 gas and wood units are sold each year just from Jotul North America. Jotul ASA sells around 100,000 stoves and fireplaces annually to an international market of 20 countries.

-Will Harte