U.K. Minister Of State For Business, Energy Visits Gibbs Sports Amphibians In Auburn Hills
AUBURN HILLS -- During his Detroit-area visit promoting business collaborations between the two countries, the United Kingdom Minister of State for Business and Energy Michael Fallon visited Gibbs Sports Amphibians' U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills.
Gibbs executives offered Fallon a first-hand look at the Quadski, a recently launched personal sports amphibian that demonstrates technological development through a cross-national effort.
"The Quadski represents a successful collaboration between the United Kingdom and the United States," Fallon said. "This combination of British engineering and American manufacturing has produced the world's first personal sports amphibian. Gibbs' success highlights the huge business and investment opportunities there are on both sides of the Atlantic."
Gibbs has locations in the U.K. (Nuneaton), New Zealand and U.S. (Michigan), utilizing engineers from each of the countries for their respective strengths in technology, manufacturing and production.
Fallon also got a chance to meet with Gibbs' U.S. staff and Mayor James McDonald, of Auburn Hills; Michele Eaton, senior business development representative, Oakland County Economic Development; and Denise Asker, executive director of the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce. He also participated in a tour of Gibbs' assembly plant, where the Quadski is assembled.
"Gibbs Sports Amphibians has succeeded in bringing High Speed Amphibian technology to consumers after 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars in development across the U.K. and U.S," said Neil Jenkins, Gibbs Sports Amphibians chairman. "We would like to thank the minister for acknowledging the outstanding efforts of our two great nations; the Quadski proves innovation is developed through cooperation."
The combined U.K. and U.S. team efforts have resulted in more than 300 patents and patents pending on technology worldwide. The Quadski is the most recent product of their combined efforts and launched in October 2012.
Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc. has developed its High Speed Amphibian technology to create Quadski, the world's first sports amphibian, which operates at 45 mph on both land and water.
The privately held business, founded by Alan Gibbs with Neil Jenkins, consists of two companies – Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc., which designs and manufactures consumer sports amphibians such as the Quadski, and Gibbs Amphitrucks Inc., which designed the Humdinga and Phibian commercial amphibians for first responder and military applications. Based in Auburn Hills, Gibbs currently has more than 120 employees.
More information about Gibbs and its High Speed Amphibian technology can be found at www.gibbssports.com.
