Kelman Tavrida Group Ltd., an engineering company based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland (UK), designs and produces fault management and asset management applications for the electricity and rail sectors.

Kelman obtained an office lease for their Kelman North America Inc. subsidiary at 200 S. Wacker Drive in late 2003, and began actively staffing the space, its North American Headquarters, in early 2004.  The company expanded in 2005 to 4147 N. Ravenswood Ave. in Chicago, and began manufacturing in the U.S. for the first time.  Building on success in the U.S. market, the company was seeking a larger Chicago facility yet again in 2006.

This office primarily markets to the electricity sector, with an emphasis on Asset Management products. Access throughout the country from O'Hare, Midwest clients and direct flights to the UK factored into the decision to come to Chicago.

World Business Chicago assisted Kelman with providing local contacts, visa information, and educating them on City and State Incentives, although no incentives were involved in the initial project.   In late 2004 World Business Chicago also assisted the company with a search for expanded multi-use facilities.

“Thank you for your help. Some of the information you provided when we first spoke was also very useful helping get visas sorted, so thank you again,” wrote Roland Weir, Kelman North America General Manager.

The addition of Kelman to Chicago enhances the large UK-based company presence in the city and is a good example of how a small startup office can expand in scope and size based on the opportunities available in Chicago and the entire North American marketplace.