Kronospan Announces Major Expansion in Oxford, Alabama

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Oxford, AL – The Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC) is pleased to announce the expansion of Kronospan in Oxford, AL.  This announcement represents a significant opportunity for the wood-based panel producer that has been operating in Oxford since 2008.  The expansion will consist of four projects:  (a) two laminate flooring and decorative paper impregnation lines; (b) a particleboard and thermally infused laminate line; (c) an expansion of the KronoChem resin plant; and (d) development of a furniture cluster.  Kronospan plans to make a $362 million capital investment in the expansion and also hire an additional 160 persons for its workforce.

“We sincerely appreciate the State of Alabama, acting through the Department of Commerce, the City of Oxford and Calhoun County for supporting our expansion project and making it a reality,” said Tim Pack, Chief Financial Officer of Kronospan.

“I’m honored and pleased to see Kronospan embark on an expansion in Oxford that will create good jobs for the citizens of Calhoun County,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “Job creation is my No. 1 priority because it means new opportunities for Alabama residents.”

“Kronospan is making a significant investment to expand its production center in Oxford, and we will work closely with the company to ensure that their project is successful,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “We look forward to building on the partnership we have developed with Kronospan since they began operations in Alabama around eight years ago.”

“The City of Oxford is delighted about the expansion of Kronospan and the significant economic impact this will have in our community,” said Steven Waits, Oxford City Council President.  “Kronospan has continued to be a generous corporate citizen for our city, and we are looking forward to their continued presence in Oxford for generations to come.”

Once the expansion is completed, Kronospan will have invested $650 million and will employ more than 270 workers at its Oxford operations.  That will make the company the largest private capital investor in the City of Oxford, said EDC Chairman Larry Deason, “And, it will be one of the largest employers in our area.”

Don Hudson, Calhoun County Commissioner, echoed the excitement from the EDC and the City of Oxford.  “We are so pleased to see such a significant industry in our community continue to invest in Calhoun County and create new jobs.  We are thrilled to witness the future impact this expansion with Kronospan will have in our community.”

Kronospan will utilize the services of the local Alabama Career Center to recruit for the expansion project.  Hiring for the expansions will be undertaken in phases.  A job fair will be conducted at the Career Center located at 1731 Coleman Road in Anniston.  An announcement concerning the date and time of the job fair will be made in the near future.

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About Kronospan

Kronospan is a leading manufacturer of wood-based panel products and related value-added products.  The Company is privately-owned, with more than 40 manufacturing and distribution sites throughout the world.  Kronospan is the top manufacturer globally of MDF, laminate flooring, particleboard and UF resins for wood-based panels; and is the top manufacturer in Europe of OSB.

In 2008, Kronospan started up operations at its Oxford, AL, facility, where it now manufactures MDF, HDF and resins.  Notwithstanding very difficult market conditions in the housing industry, Kronospan has maintained its level of employment at the Oxford facility since start-up.  Upon completion of the expansion project, Kronospan will represent the largest private capital investment in the City of Oxford and Calhoun County and will be one of the largest employers in the area.

In December 2015, Kronospan made another significant investment in the United States when it acquired Clarion Industries in Shippenville, PA.  Clarion Industries produces MDF, HDF and laminate flooring.  The Pennsylvania operations employ 320 persons.

For more information about Kronospan, visit www.kronospan-worldwide.com and for more information about Kronospan’s products, services and business concepts, visit www.kronospan-express.com and www.krono-original.com.

 

Paper Company Expanding in Oxford, Alabama

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June 14, 2016

 

PAPER COMPANY EXPANDING IN OXFORD, ALABAMA

 

Oxford, AL – Gypsum paper producer NGC Industries is investing $26 million to expand its operations in Oxford, a move that could create 14 new jobs over time, the Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC) announced today.

 

The Oxford plant uses discarded cardboard, magazines and trimmings from print shops to produce gypsum board face and back paper.  The expansion will modernize the plant and increase the efficiency of their output, said EDC Chairman Larry Deason.

 

“This year marks NGC’s 60th anniversary as a corporate citizen of Calhoun County,” Deason said. “How fitting that they celebrate and honor the past by investing in their future here. We are proud to partner with them to bring more jobs to the area.”

 

The EDC and the City of Oxford have partnered together to ensure the expansion needs of NGC are met.

 

“We are excited about the opportunity this expansion project brings to the community and the associates at NGC,” said Neal Stephenson, Director of Paper Operations at NGC.  “The support we have received from the county and local governments has been instrumental in the company choosing our location for these capital improvements.”

 

“The City of Oxford is committed to advancing the manufacturing sector in our community and we are more than happy to assist NGC in creating new high-paying jobs in Oxford,” said Steven Waits, Oxford City Council President.  “This project also will further enhance economic development in Oxford.”

 

NGC Industries, LLC, is a subsidiary of National Gypsum Company.

New auto supplier coming to Oxford; plant could mean 75 jobs

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From the Anniston Star:

A Canadian-based automotive supplier plans to open a plant in Oxford and hire at least 75 workers starting in April.

The Calhoun County Economic Development Council announced Wednesday that Kobay Enstel-South, LLC would be opening a facility between April and May. Officials said the company would use a building owned by the council and hire workers over the next three years.

“Our mission is to bring jobs to Calhoun County,” said Larry Deason, chairman of the council. “These are the kind of skilled labor jobs that we seek, as they match our workforce profile and strengthen our position as a player in Alabama’s growing automotive industry.”

Kobay produces stamped metal vehicle parts for the automotive industry, such as seat components. According to its website, more than 70 percent of its products are made for Honda, which has a car manufacturing facility in nearby Lincoln.

The company will lease the council’s 60,000 square-foot speculative building on McIntosh Road for the next 13 years. A speculative building is a basic structure that a company can quickly renovate to its needs.

“The beauty of a spec building is it gives us a real good leg up on meeting a company’s needs,” said Don Hopper, executive director of the council.

The Alabama Department of Commerce brought the company to Calhoun County after it struggled to find a suitable spot in the region. Greg Canfield, secretary for the Department of Commerce, said in a Wednesday press release that the spec building was key to Calhoun County becoming Kobay’s site choice.

“Kobay Enstel wants to start production during the first quarter, so the EDC’s portfolio of spec buildings puts Calhoun County on the short list and made this worthwhile project possible,” Canfield said.

Hopper noted that the council had property available so the Kobay can double the size of the building if it needs to expand and hire even more workers.

“They wanted to make sure they could do that,” Deason said of the expansion capability.

In a Wednesday press release, Gavin Galansky, president of Kobay, said the company was thrilled to become part of the Anniston-Oxford community.

“We are excited about the opportunity for growth and expansion in the South,” Galansky said.

American-Made Products Boosting Alabama Jobs

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Our Executive Director, Don Hopper, and others engaged in the manufacturing sector of Calhoun County and beyond speak out about the positive impacts of “Made in America” in this 20-part series.

Eastaboga Site Receives AdvantageSite Designation

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Oxford, AL – The Eastaboga Site in Oxford has received the Alabama AdvantageSite designation.

The AdvantageSite program requires that community economic development organizations provide documentation specific to a proposed industrial site, including a set of standard data related to ownership/control, environmental and geotechnical conditions, and infrastructure status. Sites must also meet size, zoning and accessibility requirements.

The 130 acre site is accessible via John Willis Avenue, which connects to U.S. Highway 78 and leads directly to Interstate 20. All utilities are either on-site or nearby.

The application process was managed locally by the Calhoun County Economic Development Council with a team of local entities supporting and/or participating in the process.

EDC Chairman Larry Deason said the organization is pleased to announce that this site will be the second AdvantageSite in the area.

“The Alabama AdvantageSite program offers prospective businesses peace of mind that all due diligence has been performed on the site and that it is ready to be fully developed within a short time frame,” Deason said. “We are proud of the work performed by our staff, members of the community and other business entities who have ensured that the process of receiving the AdvantageSite designation was smooth and accurate. Receiving this designation is a boon not just for Oxford, but for all of Calhoun County and demonstrates that we are a proactive community ready for business and industry. We look forward to expanding the AdvantageSite program within our community as we prepare more sites.”

AdvantageSite is a teamwork approach between the private sector and state and local governments geared toward having prepared product and materials ready for industrial prospects. Alabama now has 46 active AdvantageSites through out the state.

The program is jointly sponsored by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Alagasco, Alabama Power Co., the North Alabama Industrial Development Association, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative,
coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.  Representatives from each of the entities actively participate in application reviews and on-site visits to prospective AdvantageSite designees. AdvantageSite is a voluntary industrial site preparedness program created in order to make the state more competitive for companies considering a location in Alabama. Twenty-one projects have located on sites with AdvantageSite designations since the program’s inception in 2008. These projects represent the creation of more than 4,000 jobs and $900 million in capital investments.

For more information on the AdvantageSite program, please visit: http://www.edpa.org/about-us/advantagesite/.

Japanese Delegation Vists Calhoun County

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The Southeast United States (SEUS) Japan Conference was recently held in Birmingham, Alabama. This conference was the 38th annual conference of the SEUS Japan Association and Japan SEUS Association. Each year, the conference held between these two organizations alternates between the United States and Japan. This is the first time the event has been hosted by the State of Alabama in fifteen years. The conference is a great opportunity to bring together top leadership from Japan and SEUS to provide the best occasion to discuss and learn more about current issues in investment, trade, and other topics that affect both organizations.

The Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC) was able to both attend the high-level forum and host a group of Japanese delegates as they learned more about the aerospace industry in Alabama. The EDC partnered with local Oxford industry, Aerospace Coatings International, to provide a glimpse into the manufacturing environment of Calhoun County and offer the delegates further insight into one of the largest targeted industry sectors for the State of Alabama. During their visit to the Aerospace Coatings facility, the Japanese delegates were able to tour the industry and meet with Pat McCartney, President of Aerospace  Coatings.

 

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“This was an amazing opportunity for us to showcase Calhoun County and the aerospace industries located in our community. We were pleased to welcome the Japanese delegates to Northeast Alabama and look forward to the potential of working with them further in the future,” stated Don Hopper Executive Director of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council.

 

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Aerospace Coatings International

Aerospace Coatings is a one-stop shop for piece-part repairs, working to deliver high-quality repairs at competitive rates in a timely and cost-effective manner. The organization significantly reduces the cost of fleet for commercial airlines, OEMS, military and personal aircraft by providing world-class component repairs. For more information on Aerospace Coatings International, visit: https://www.aerocoatings.com/index.asp .

Gnutti Carlo Expansion Ribbon Cutting

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Gnutti Carlo USA of Jacksonville recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of their new 64,000 sq. ft. machine shop at the Jacksonville facility. The expansion in Jacksonville had been an 18 month-long process which saw their facility become the North American epicenter for Gnutti Carlo’s operations.

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Paolo Groff, CEO of Gnutti Carlo, stated at the ribbon cutting, “We have invested here in Alabama more than $9 million between the foundry and machine shop. We still believe this site has significant potential.”

Since 2013, the Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC), City of Jacksonville, and the Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) have partnered together to ensure the availability of qualified workforce for Gnutti Carlo’s needs. Previously known as Shelco Foundries, Gnutti Carlo has created 75 new positions over the past two years.

“Over the past two years the EDC has had the privilege of working with Gnutti Carlo to further establish their presence in Alabama. We are ecstatic to see those efforts into fruition with the ribbon cutting of their machine shop and the creation of 75 new jobs. We are looking forward to working with them further as their facility in Jacksonville fills their needs for their North American market,” said Don Hopper, the Executive Director of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council.

Gnutti Carlo in Jacksonville casts ductile iron components such as brackets, rocker arms, truck door hinges, and water pipe fittings. The company’s primary customers include major OEM manufacturers such as Caterpillar MTU, Navistar, Deutz, Ford Motor Company.

For more information on Gnutti Carlo USA, visit their website: http://www.gnutticarlo.com/en/.

 

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Leadership Calhoun County Industry Day

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Leadership Calhoun County Industry Day

            The Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce created the Leadership Calhoun County (LCC) program as a tool to better prepare and build upon leadership resources within the county; each class contains emerging leaders from the northeast Alabama region. For the month of October, the LCC class was introduced to numerous industrial and manufacturing industries as part of the LCC Industry Day. Lindsay Ward, the Director of Business Development for the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, chaired the LCC Industry Day and organized plant tours for the LCC class to learn about the role manufacturing plays in our community.

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The LCC group, led by Lisa Morales, began the day with a presentation from Brian McVeigh, the District Attorney for Calhoun County, who discussed his personal path to leadership. After the leadership series discussion, the LCC group then heard about the economic development initiatives that are taking place with the McClellan Development Authority (MDA). Robin Scott, Executive Director of MDA, discussed the role economic development and industry has played in the life of the former fort and what we can expect to see in its future. Following the discussion around MDA, the class then heard from Don Hopper, the Executive Director for the Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC). Mr. Hopper discussed the EDC’s position in recruiting industry to Calhoun County and went into further detail regarding the success of the programs with the new and expanding industries for our region.

Once the LCC class finished the morning discussion revolving around economic development, they then dispersed into smaller groups to tour different industries in our community and to see first-hand the impact of manufacturing. The LCC groups were able to tour the following industries throughout our area: Changer & Dresser; Gnutti Carlo, USA; Carmin Industries; TapeCraft; Aerospace Coatings International; Eastman; Southern Custom Exhibits; Doncasters-Southern Tool; BAE Systems; Lee Brass; Auto Custom Carpets; The Supply Room; Civilian Marksmanship Program; B.R. Williams Trucking; FITCO; Tyler Union; International Automotive Components; and Federal Mogul. For more information on the Leadership Calhoun County Program contact Lisa Morales with the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce at 256-237-3536 or at LisaM@CalhounChamber.com.

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EMSCO Expansion

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2015

EMSCO EXPANDING IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA

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Anniston, AL – The Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC) is pleased to announce that local existing industry, EMSCO, will be expanding their Anniston operations.

EMSCO has been serving foundries all over the United States from their Anniston location for over 30 years. Founded in 1977 as Electric Melting Service Company, EMSCO services and installs induction equipment produced by any OEM. Known as the Melting Industry’s First Responder, EMSCO operates on the principle that foundries choose suppliers that understand their needs and have established core principles of quick customer response and dedicated customer service that their customers have come to depend on.

The $4 million expansion to their existing facility will expand their current workforce with the addition of 14 new jobs. The new development at EMSCO will allow for the company to begin production on a new initiative known as HyprCool® Hybrid Process Cooling Systems; this new process will use hybrid adiabatic technology to use less water to cool heating towers that are used for metal-working. This process will prevent overheating during the summer and freezing during the winter season.

EMSO President Jim Dyer stated, “We have been very pleased with the quality workforce that has run our Southern Operations for three decades. It became an easy choice to expand our operations in Anniston.”

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Over the past year and a half, the EDC has worked diligently with EMSCO to see their expansion to fruition. “We are thrilled to have EMSCO expanding their operations at their current facility in Anniston,” stated Larry Deason, Chairman of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council. “This is an industry that we have developed a strong relationship and worked with to make sure that their expansion needs are met and the best possible scenario is reached.”

“We look forward to furthering our footprint within both Anniston and Calhoun County as the expansion plans take off and turn into reality,” stated Jimmy Horton, Vice President and General Manager of Southern Operations at EMSCO. Horton also said that estimated completion date will be May 2016.

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EMSCO
Founded in 1977 as Electric Melting Service Company, EMSCO has developed a reputation as the Melting Industry’s First Responder. EMSCO, Inc. has four locations in the United States: EMSCO North in Massillon, OH; EMSCO South in Anniston, AL; EMSCO Installations in Rancocas, NJ; and EMSCO West in Pico Rivera, CA. For more details on EMSCO, please visit www.emsco.com .