Jos America is a family run company, which was established in 1954 and employs 46 members of staff. The family name 'America' is even older than the country America itself and is not linked to the USA, but probably derived from the Latin name 'Am Erica'. A lot of people thing at first that the company is American, this is not the case, it is an entirely Dutch business.

The activities during the first 30 years mainly consisted of trade and revision of machines for the shoe repair and key-making sector, representing Rafflenbeul and at a later stage Hardo. A lot of shoe repair companies were fitted with machines in that time. Yet Jos America was not really satisfied with the internal dust extraction these companies supplied. After a period of time the shoe repair shops were dusty and due to the noise the customer could hardly be heard. This had to change. Workshops had to become shops were the customer would find his own way in a relaxed environment. Jos America appealed to the existing machine producers to develop a more effective dust extraction system, at a lower noise level. Unfortunately there was no interest in these advanced ideas.

Therefore, the founder Mr. Jos America (on this picture taken in 1955 he finds an attentive audience explaining an outsole stitcher) took the initiative in 1981 of producing these shoe repair machines on it's own. At that stage the company was already altering existing machines, thus producing machines was not completely unknown. Then, in 1984, the 2nd generation in form of Mr. Caspar America, came on board, which meant that there was more manpower to realise these ideas. The first FLEXAM was a given fact in 1984. The name is a combination out of FLEXible individual service system and the AMerica family name.



The most important features of the new Flexam system where and still are 1) their advanced dust extraction system 2) it's high level of quality 3) the fine eye for details and 4) a extraordinary low noise-level. The period as of 1984 was marked by changes that took place turning a trade company into a machine producer. The growing number of sales in the shoe repair sector even abroad was noticeable. The company was growing at the same time, to fulfil the need. A number of times adjourning premises were bought, until in 1992 a complete new office and showroom complex was built. And in 2006, a complete new factory is planned to be built on a 8500 m2 (91.000 square feet) large area in a near industrial area. It's opening is planned early 2008.

The grow of the orthopaedic shoe technique and the stagnation in the shoe repair sector meant that the direction Jos America was taking had to change as well. Halfway into the 90ties the development of an external dust extraction system was started, for the connection of more than two scouring machines, for the orthopaedic shoe technique branch. Thanks to a number of specialised employees in the air technique sector the successful products Flexam Vacuum 80 High Capacity and the Flexam Vacuum 80 Compact were developed, which completely suited the growing need for solutions regarding dust problems and noise level in the work space. Theseexternal extraction units are also being applied to the shoe repair sector, in the last couple of years.

In the shoe repair branch there isn't always enough room to implement these advanced possibilities. Sometimes the extraction unit can be placed in a storage room, the basement, on the first floor or onto the roof, but often especially in the large shopping centres the space is scarce and therefore expensive.

The shoe repair branch has seen radical changes since the nineties. The number of shoe repair within shops has decreased and the call for a clean, fresh shop is becoming loud. Often old machines containing technique from the 60ties and 70ties are revised, but these only temporarily suffice on the requested demands. The new generation of machines have to be compact, efficient, clean and quiet. As result of the recession in the shoe repair sector in the 90ties there are almost no companies left that are developing new machines for this branch. Jos America poses an exception herein. Thanks to it's know-how, the year 2003 was started with a completely new design. The FLEXAM CITY, as the machine has been named was displayed to the public at the tradeshow in Wiesbaden 2003 (Germany). In view of the many sales during the last years, Jos America can now claim that it was indeed a very successful introduction. This machine clearly accommodates the great need for a dust- and noise free, therefore healthy workspace for the many staff in the shoe repair sector.

Caspar America's foresight in the early 90' ies was right when he supposed that within 10 - 15 years the production in the orthopaedic shoe technique had to be largely automated. The shortage on skilled personnel, the growing need through ageing and the call for a faster shoe production can only intensify these developments. Therefore since 1995 Jos America possesses it's own department for cad cam systems.

Here they develop for example products for automation such as foot scanners and foot-pressuring systems that can be used to automate parts of the insole production. This formula satisfies the customer's need to walk better and more comfortably. As such these systems are made user friendly, so that not only computer specialist but also unqualified computer personnel can operate them. Most of the software is webbased, which makes the distribution and control easier and makes the services instantly worldwide available.

With its experience, several special webbased services (such as Ortho-King and Insole-King) were developped and launched in 2007.


Art-impression of the new Jos America headquarter 2008.

In summary one can claim that Jos America is a progressive company, which pays a lot of attention to product development. Thanks to this approach the company has been able to realise a continuos growth. In the coming years a further grow in our line of products is expected. Furthermore the company will aim at expanding its export market.

Brandnames owned or represented by the JOS AMERICA company, based in the Netherlands:

timeline:

• 2007 grand opening (19th April) of the new pedortic institute at Eneslow, Park Avenue, New York City.
• 2007 succesful start of the Insole-King programm, webbased insole manufactoring services.
• 2007 order for installation of new Pedortic Institute workshop in the citycenter of Amsterdam, by Fontys Paramedical University.
  
• 2007 order for realising a new orthopedic centre in Dubai VAE.
  
• 2007 start of realising new Jos America Headquarter on 985,000 sf in industrial area nearby current HQ.
  
• 2007 Japanese order for realising new orthopedic educational center at the Sanda College for Medical Welfare in Kobe (Japan).
• 2007 start of the Pedorthic Course and launch of ORTHO-KING in New York City.
  
  
• 2006 footscanner OSO now available in French language.
• 2006 opening of pedortic workshop in New York City.
  
• 2006 premiere of the new POWER-LINE for shoe repairs.
• 2006 joint-venture for 6 new multi-service shops McFLEK in Sint Petersburg (Russia).
• 2006 Jos America welcomes export growth to several countries such as Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Russia, USA, Canada, Japan and VAE.
  
  
• 2005 launch of new scouring unit, the Flexam Oneliner.
• 2005 strategic software development with Voxelworks in own hands.
• 2005 succesful participation on PFA-congress in Indianapolis, USA.
• 2005 renewing showroom & conference room in HQ Vlijmen.
• 2005 strategic cooperation with Standard Engineering Ltd for export of FLEXAM to the UK & Ierland, as well as South Africa and Australia.
• 2005 Jos America realises strong growth in Skandinavian market..
  
  
• 2004 launch of the new funnel scourer the FLEXAM Pro-Fit 4000 for prosthetists and orthotists
• 2004 premiere of the new FLEXAM CITY in Wiesbaden, Germany.
  
  
• 2003 introduction of the Compact 75 Podomaster scouring machine.
• 2003 new series of shoe shine machines, the Shoecaddy 600 en 850 Designa series with export worldwide.
• 2003 footscanner 3D for quicker insole manufacturing.
• 2003 succesful participation of the FLEXAM J-line at the 6th IVO Congress in Tokyo, Japan.
  
  
• 2002 introduction of new automatic insole software programm, see at www.pedcad.nl
• 2001 footscanner O.S.O. makes digital blueprints available.
• 2001 start with Easy Last Cam, producing orthopedic lasts by CNC.
• 2001 start of Jos America Japan, represented by OSM Edi Herbst Ltd..
  
  
• 2000 first installations of the compact versions of the FLEXAM dust extraction range, the Vakuum 80 Compact.

• 1997 enlargement with new building in Nieuwkuijk for dust extraction production on a 230,000 sf area.
• 1996 development of the FLEXAM V80 High Capacity range of dust extraction solutions.
• 1995 start of export outside the Benelux, mainly focussed on Germany, Switserland and Scandinavia.
• 1992 development and launche of the FLEXAM Revolution Series with automated dust valves based on sensor technology.
• 1991 enlargement of the HQ with a new showroom & offices complex.
• 1984 with Caspar America, the 2nd generation of this family based company starts.
• 1983 start of production of machinery with an own brand named FLEXAM
• 1981 start of 3 year development for FLEXAM production.
• 1973 company moves from Nieuwkuijk to Vlijmen.
• 1969 Mr. Joseph America starts his amateur flying carreer. Becomes member of the Red Eagles, a succesful aerobatic formation team with 3 Bölkow-Juniors.
• 1968 Hardo representation for Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.
• 1954 specialist for the Dutch shoemakers, representing Rafflenbeul, Frobana and Power..
• 1954 foundation by Mr. Joseph America of JOS AMERICA by moving from Valkenburg to Nieuwkuijk.
• 1945-1954 Joseph America's professional training period during his work period in the family run business - Leather grocery Albert Ameria in Valkenburg, the Netherlands.
• 1939-1945 2nd World War interupts the educational period of our founder.
• 1922 Born as 5th and younghest child, Joseph America shows his interest already as a teaner in all kinds of new technology, such as radios and aircrafts.