Manifold and Phalor plans $6-million expansion

ThisWeek CW 03/08/2012

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2012/03/06/manifold-and-phalor-plans-6-million-expansion.html

Manifold and Phalor moved its machine and fabrication shop from Reynoldsburg to Canal Winchester only two years ago, and already company officials are looking to double operations.

“Over the last year, we’ve looked at how our business has grown and the interest we’ve gotten from our customer base as far as what they’d like us to do for them,” company president Tom Creek said. “We’ll invest $6 million in the expansion of the building, buying equipment and hiring the necessary employees to do the additional work.”

The state recently awarded a five-year Job Creation Tax Credit for $87,416 to the company as a part of a larger incentive package for a total of 18 companies with the goal of creating 1,600 new jobs, according to state officials.

Manifold and Phalor, located on Busey Road, provides general support for manufacturers including machine, tool-and-die work, welding work and support and maintenance contracts for manufacturing machinery, Creek said. It has been in business since 1946 and currently has machine installations in more than 30 countries covering a variety of industries.

“We plan on adding 30 new jobs over the next couple years,” Creek said. “Manufacturing in general seems to be doing very well; our customers are doing well and so that helps us do well. We’re hearing from them that they’re struggling to keep up right now.”

Additional staff will increase the company’s payroll from $1.8 million to $2.9 million, according to state officials.

Canal Winchester development director Lucas Haire said the expanded investment was a collaborative effort.

“We’ve been meeting with (Manifold and Phalor) over the past few months, and fortunately, we were able to bring in some assistance from the state through the job creation tax credit,” Haire said.

Canal Winchester currently provides Manifold and Phalor with a commercial reinvestment area (CRA) tax abatement. The company will receive a new 15-year abatement on the additional structure once it has been built, according to Haire.

“We participated in all the meetings between Manifold and Phalor and the state, a part of which was providing information on the 100-percent tax abatement CRA for the next 15 years for the expansion building, which we believe will be between 30,000 to 60,000 square feet,” Haire said.

Creek and Haire both said manufacturing opportunities are strong in the area, even if other industries are still struggling because of the economy.

“What really has triggered some of the focus on education in the Fairfield/33 Corridor Development Alliance has been companies like Manifold and Phalor who need more skilled labor, precision machinists and skilled welders,” Haire said.

Creek and Canal Winchester officials are both excited about the investment.

“Manifold and Phalor has been a great addition to our community,” Mayor Michael Ebert said. “We’re pleased to see this expansion in the Canal Pointe Industrial Park and look forward to their future success.”