VON ROLL USA, INC. ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION AT ROTTERDAM PLANT Empire State Development, Schenectady County IDA Support Plans To Make Rotterdam Von Roll's U.S. Headquarters
Rotterdam, N.Y. (July 24, 2007) - Von Roll, a worldwide leader of electrical insulation products for the industrial market, will invest more than $20 million in its Rotterdam plant, significantly improving its U.S. manufacturing capabilities and making Rotterdam the North American headquarters for Von Roll USA, Inc.
"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," said Jurg Brunner, president of Von Roll USA, Inc. "We are deeply appreciative that key partners, including state and local government officials and agencies, IUE Local 301, which represents our employees, National Grid, and many others are working with us to make these ambitious plans a reality."
"We are thrilled with the investment that Von Roll USA, Inc. is making in New York state," said Daniel C. Gundersen, chairman of Empire State Development/Upstate. "This serves as yet another example of the growing confidence manufacturers are developing in Upstate and New York as a whole. This is a positive boost for the economy of Rotterdam and we join them in their enthusiasm for the Schenectady region."
"Schenectady County is proud to have helped to coordinate this expansion as part of our unified economic development program," said Susan E. Savage, chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. "Von Roll USA, Inc. is an important employer in our community and when we learned of this opportunity to win a new investment and new jobs at our local plant we moved quickly to mobilize support to help us bring this new investment to Schenectady County. We appreciate the company's investment in our community, Governor Spitzer's support, the support from members of IUE-CWA Local 301 and many others who helped land this significant new investment."
The major expansion project will add 25,000 to 30,000 square feet to the plant, bring in state-of-the-art equipment, update existing equipment, add 50 jobs over five years, and improve the company's development, testing and business infrastructures.
Von Roll USA, Inc. is the American arm of the Swiss company Von Roll Holding Ltd., which has a leading market position in its core business of electrical insulation.
In return for Von Roll's investment of $20 million over two years, the company will receive a number of incentives from the state and county governments to upgrade and expand the Rotterdam plant. Pending local government approvals, Von Roll plans to begin construction as soon as the appropriate permits are in place.
Von Roll USA, Inc. will upgrade existing lab facilities, office and production space. The company will also construct new manufacturing, warehouse and office space at the site located in the Town of Rotterdam. The Rotterdam plant expansion will include significant investment in development and manufacturing processes focusing on creating centers of competence for Liquids and Mica product design and production.
Von Roll USA, Inc. will be eligible to apply to receive Empire Zone Benefits as a result of a planned expansion of the current zone in the City of Schenectady to the Rotterdam site.
The Schenectady County IDA will provide a sales tax exemption on construction materials.
Schenectady County will also include the Von Roll USA, Inc. site in a planned expansion of the Capital Region Foreign Trade Zone. This program will allow raw materials to be brought to the site duty free encouraging manufacturing to be done in the United States versus overseas locations. This program will help Von Roll USA, Inc. compete with other locations around the globe.
Von Roll USA, Inc. is eligible to apply for $400,000 from Empire State Development in return for the company's commitment to expand, invest and create new jobs a the site.
Von Roll USA, Inc. is also eligible to apply for $250,000 in funding from National Grid's economic development program to help fund electric and gas infrastructure costs related to the expansion project.
"While Von Roll looked at several sites around the U.S. for this investment, we decided to expand in Rotterdam because of the critical knowledge base of the local workforce and the support of state and local officials," Brunner said. "This investment will strengthen Von Roll's unique position as a full insulation system provider. The expansion will allow design, productivity and quality improvements and bring long-term, sustained benefits to our customers."
The operational activities of Von Roll, a company listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (ROL.SW), are focused on the global supply of solutions in the fields of electro insulation to increase the energy efficiency of electricity generators and electro motors and fibre-reinforced composites. Von Roll has operations in over 30 locations around the world.
"We are deeply appreciative that key partners, including state and local government officials and agencies, IUE Local 301, which represents our employees, National Grid, and many others are working with us to make these ambitious plans a reality."
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Completion of the new state-of-the-art Railex produce terminal in the Rotterdam Industrial Park capped the town’s two-year economic development success story. The 212,000-square-foot, $24 million project now employs about 200 workers and will add approximately 150 next year. This project also benefits the environment by reducing the amount of fuel needed to transport produce across the country. Using trains to deliver the produce, instead of trucks, reduces fuel consumption by 190,000 gallons annually. This reduced cost may also provide cost savings to consumers.
The Railex project was not the only economic developmentachievement in town last year, but it ranks among the most significant in a successful year. The project does not use local taxpayer dollars for incentives, it does not place new burdens on infrastructure or schools (as residential development does), and it reduces both environmental impacts and costs to consumers. No wonder so many municipalities wanted it.
“The chances of Rotterdam getting this project were about one in 4,000,” said Town Board Economic Development Committee Chair John Mertz. Rotterdam won Railex over sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey through crucial infrastructure improvements and creative incentives. The State of New York provided $2.235 million in rail infrastructure improvements, plus $500,000 in improvements to the industrial park entrance. Located in an Empire Zone, the park can also take advantage of another useful state incentive program: Railex pays property taxes to the town but is then reimbursed by the state.
Additional state money is funding improvements elsewhere in the park with $2 million in Restore NY grant funds going to renovate two buildings for reuse by businesses. Over the past two years, the Price Chopper freezer warehouse and the FedEx distribution center were also completed in the park, with investments of $18 million and $6 million, respectively. Both brought new jobs to Rotterdam, and both expand the tax base, enabling the town to keep property tax rates and tax bills lower.
“Economic development is all about creating jobs and keeping taxes low,” said Mertz. “We are proud of our success, and we worked hard for it. We will continue to collaborate with Schenectady County, Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority and state government agencies to achieve even more in the coming year.”
The money from this story is what was used in order to bring Von Roll in and let them grow as much as they need to bring jobs into the town (and I guess, the county, if we have to admit it).
We (the town of Rotterdam and it's committee) collaborate with the city and county and they run around like little Miss Priss taking credit for everything.
ROTTERDAM Von Roll expansion may bring 50 jobs Company set to relocate North American headquarters BY JASON SUBIK Gazette Reporter
Switzerland-based electrical insulation company Von Roll USA Inc. announced Tuesday that it will move its North American headquarters to Rotterdam from Atlanta, Ga., as part of a plan to invest $20 million and hire as many as 50 new workers over five years at its West Campbell Road manufacturing plant. “We will establish center of excellence for mica and liquid product here ... and as a result will nearly double our technology innovation activities at this site,” said Jurg Brunner, president of Von Roll USA. According to company officials, the expansion project will add up to 25,000 to 30,000 square feet to the plant, update equipment and improve the facilities development and testing infrastructures. Other aspects of the project will include new manufacturing and warehouse space. Von Roll was in part convinced to relocate its headquarters to Rotterdam by a package of government incentives. Schenectady-Glenville Empire Zone coordinator Steven Strichman said the company’s commitment to hire 50 new employees over five years has enabled the Empire Zone program to view them as a “Regionally Significant Project” enabling tax benefits to be applied to the business. “The zone comes to this site individually. First off it gives them access to a National Grid [delivery] rate reduction, and there are property tax break incentives,” Strichman said. “If they hire 10 people … they get a 10 percent credit on property taxes and corporate taxes and then they also get a [four percentage point state] sales tax exemption on purchases [for materials for the expansion].” The Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency committed to provide a sales tax exemption on construction materials for the expansion. Schenectady County Legislature Vice Chairman Ed Kosiur, who is also a candidate for the Assembly in an upcoming special election, credited the efforts of Schenectady County’s Unifi ed Economic Development team with helping to encourage Von Roll to choose Rotterdam. “Almost $225 million in private new investments and more than 2,000 new jobs have [been created] in Schenectady County over the past three years as a result of our Unified Economic Development Team, put in place by the Schenectady County Legislature,” Kosiur said. Von Roll will also be eligible for a $400,000 Empire State Development grant as well as $250,000 from National Grid’s economic development program. Ray Gillen, the chairman and chief executive officer for the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, said applications have been made to the U.S. Commerce Department to make the Von Roll site a part of a Foreign Trade Zone. “It basically [would mean] you can bring in raw materials from overseas to this site and there are no taxes or tariffs of any kind and when you add value to the product here you only pay duties on the finished product when you send it out, unless you send it overseas, like [Von Roll often does], then there is nothing. It becomes like a duty-free shop,” Gillen said. “It’s going to provide cost savings and make this plant more efficient.” Carmen DePoalo, business agent for Schenectady’s Local 301 of the IUE-CWA, said his union represents many of the approximately 100 people currently employed at the West Campbell Road site. He said he worked with the Unifi ed Economic Development Team to help get Von Roll’s commitment of 50 new workers. “These aren’t just run-of-themill jobs, these are jobs that pay $20 to $25 an hour, which come with health benefits, 401(k)s, pension benefits. You can go to the bank and say ‘hey I need a loan for a home’ with a job like that,” DePoalo said. DePoalo said his union is going to start contract renegotiations with Von Roll in a few weeks. “The people here are hard workers and are responsive to the company’s needs. We don’t turn around and have that many battles, it’s more of ‘how can we work things out here,’ ” he said.
I don't mean to sound negative here, but 10 jobs/year for 5 years doesn't seem like a 'big whoop' to me. Not for the over 1/2million in grants Von Roll received. And I would like to know if it is the union that negotiated the $20/25 per hour wage or would Von Roll have paid that anyways?
That union needs to tread lightly....they are one of the main reasons GE is long gone from here! 150 employees at Von Roll hardly constitutes a match for GE!
And it would be interesting to find out if the union will approve perscription drugs purchased from Canada...hmmmmm!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
There really aren't that many people. They make it sound like it's 100's of jobs. I mean come on...we are talking FIFTY jobs in 5 YEARS! Clearly not a reason to celebrate. And this would have never even made the liberal news paper or the union would not be rejoicing if it weren't for this election. When was the last time you heard this big 'whoop' over 10 jobs a year? God, the department stores do that during the holiday season and we hear nothing. It is just a Suzie Savage/Ed Kosiur thing! Another smoke and mirrors political ploy. Probably trying to get the voter's minds of the stupid sex offender law along side the ingenious ban on spray paint and markers!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And even though $20/hr may sound impressive, it would be IF we lived in another state. $20/hr = $40grand a year...GROSS! How much do you really think you will be living on when you are done paying not only the fed tax, but the state tax, school tax, land tax, cell phone tax, sales tax, mortgage tax, water tax, gas tax, tobacco tax...it is endless. Come on people....$40grand is clearly better than nothing, but it really ain't all that much for a family to live on in NYS.
So come on there Mr.Union representative....can't you do better than that?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And these are 'blue collar' jobs, which is great...but what happened to the corporate commerce that was going to bring in hi tech, professional jobs to Rotterdam? Ya know...the white collar workers?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Rotterdam clearly has white collar's living here. They just don't work here.
Come on let's face it, Rotterdam is just a quaint little bedroom community that will always resemble a small town out of the 50's. God, we still have our little parades with the high school bands in it. And fundraisers at the firehouses. And Curry Freeze that has become a historical landmark. We are no different than the Pennsylvania coal mining towns, except ours was a GE town. And now we are just left with the remnents of what use to be. There ain't a whole lot left to do with Rotterdam except possibly 'clean it up' and make it look 'even more quaint' by getting rid of the empy buildings. Rotterdam will always be the little bedroom community where folks live but don't work.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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