Von Roll USA, Inc., a global company with a plant in Rotterdam announced Tuesday, July 24, that it would be investing $20 million into the site and making it the company’s North American headquarters.
Von Roll is a Switzerland-based company that specializes in electrical insulation products for the industrial market.
These are good-paying union manufacturing jobs, County Legislator Ed Kosiur, D-Schenectady, said. `These jobs are important to our community and as a nation.`
The investment would add 30,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space, renovate the existing complex and create 50 new manufacturing jobs, as well as moving headquarters operations from Atlanta, Ga., to the Capital District.
`After a thorough review of our global manufacturing capabilities and our production strategy for the coming years, we have decided to select the Rotterdam plant as one of the key production sites for the future,` Jurg Brunner, president of Von Roll USA, said.
The company was persuaded to invest in Rotterdam as a result of a variety of tax incentive programs.
Linda Hill, spokeswoman for National Grid’s economic development department, said Von Roll USA would qualify for a program that would give the company a reduced price for the delivery of electricity and gas because it is upgrading its infrastructure. The company also qualifies for a $250,000 grant from National Grid.
`This news is great news for all of us. It adds to the local economy and strengthens all of Upstate,` she said.
Director of Schenectady’s Metroplex Development Authority said the county’s Empire Zone would be expanded to include Von Roll USA along with the Foreign Trade Zone. Both these zones allow Von Roll USA to qualify for certain tax incentives including no taxes on imported products and no taxes on exported products that have been improved.
Gillen said Von Roll USA is also eligible for a $400,000 Empire State Development grant.
`A lot of folks feel that our economic development efforts are focused on downtown, but that’s not correct,` Gillen said. This brings our total investment in Rotterdam to over $70 million. This is a great project and it’s another great win.`
Gillen said this effort was largely due to the efforts of the local union that represents the workers at Von Roll IUE Local 301.
Carmen DePoalo, business agent for the union, said it was because of the dedicated employees that sealed the deal for Von Roll.
`I know that one of the reasons they are coming here is based on the dedication of these employees,` DePoalo said. `I know they are going to make this a world-class operation because we are building new buildings around world-class people.`
Rotterdam Town Board member Robert Godlewski and Supervisor Steven Tommasone were at Von Roll’s announcement. Both said they were excited about the new investment in the town and the creation of new jobs.
`I think it’s wonderful. I’m glad to see it come back,` Godlewski said. This is quite a shot for Rotterdam and for the county and maybe more will come in the future.`
`This is great news for the town,` Tommasone said. `This is a blue collar town so bringing more manufacturing jobs back here is key and it really fits well.
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