THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2000
Charter Steel breaks ground for $16 million plant
By Malinda Ruble
Staff Writer
Wood County and Fostoria officials welcomed Charter Steel leaders and a new $16 million plant to the Risingsun area Wednesday.
Charter Steel officials broke ground for the new steel bar-, rod- and wire-processing plant -- the company's first plant to be located outside of Wisconsin -- on the 72-acre site at 6255 US 23.
"We're very excited about the new plant. This will be our only plant outside of Wisconsin, but we have a very large customer base in the area &emdash; Toledo, Detroit and Cleveland. We felt the need to place a plant in the field near the customer,'' said John Mellowes, chairman and CEO of Charter Manufacturing, the parent company of Charter Steel.
A 100,000-square foot processing and distribution facility is to perform heat treating, cleaning and coating of steel rod coils and produce key components for the automotive industry. A 35,000-square foot warehouse, which is in place on the site, is to be connected to the plant by a materials-handling corridor.
The plant, to employ about 50 people, is expected to process about 40,000 tons of steel rod and wire annually.
Mellowes said the Perry Township site was selected because of the land and labor pool.
"The location, excellent workforce and cooperative efforts of the area's local leaders make it the ideal location to expand our business," Mellowes said. "By locating in northwest Ohio, we are better able to provide our customers with exactly what they when they need it. The success and growth that we see in the Perry Township facility will be integral to the success of Charter Steel and Charter Manufacturing.
"This site was our first choice and we're proud to be able to get it going. The land is flat and very buildable. The location is very good because it is close to Toledo and Cleveland,'' Mellowes said.
Wood County, Perry Township and Fostoria officials welcomed the new business.
"Each one of these individuals were instrumental in making this work,'' said Jeremy Gutierrez, associate director of Wood County Economic Development Commission.
Gutierrez said everyone from the trustees to Fostoria officials, Lakota schools and the Ohio Department of Transportation played a role in the event.
"It's intergovernmental cooperation that makes these kind of things happen and we're very proud to have Charter Steel here,'' added Wood County Commissioner James Carter.
Construction for the facility is expected to begin within a few days.The plant and warehouse are expected to be fully operational by Nov. 1.
"Charter Steel is a leader in the steel industry and this new plant will be a world-class facility,'' Mellowes said. "As with all of our facilities, we are committed to providing an excellent work environment -- one that is safe and uses the latest technologies. We look forward to introducing the Charter Steel name and what it stands for to the Wood County area."