Kasich development rep visits local firms

VW independent/submitted information

Local manufacturers received a friendly and informative visit from Chase Eikenbary, Governor Kasich’s Northwest Ohio regional representative, along with Mayor Don Farmer and Economic and Community Development Director Cindy Leis on Thursday.

Eikenbary’s visit to Van Wert included a plant visit to Alliance Automation LLC, where President & CEO Doug Wenninger described how the company is a custom design, build, installation and service provider of high-end automated equipment. Alliance Automation was established in 2006 with 21 employees and has grown to 71 full time associates. The company has a highly technical staff, with 28 percent of employees being mechanical and electrical degreed engineers.

Currently, Alliance Automation designs and builds most of its equipment in a 52,000-square-foot facility on Bonnewitz Avenue, with a smaller space in Delphos where fabrication and welding takes place. The company has clients from local companies such as Eaton, Federal-Mogul, Crown Equipment and Whirlpool. Alliance’s target clients are mainly in the automotive, consumer goods, food processing and packaging industries.

The company has plans for continued growth as the market continues to demand accuracy, repeatability, safety and dependability as well as cutting manufacturing costs. Presently, the company is seeking addition engineers in an effort to meet the needs of their clients.

In addition to visiting Alliance Automation, the governor’s representative met with Jack Ruhe, the plant manager at Toledo Molding & Die located in Delphos.  Also, attending the meeting was Delphos Mayor Mike Gallmeier and interim Safety Service Director Sheryl George. Toledo Molding & Die, after completing a 51,000 square foot expansion in 2012, currently employees 351 associates. From its modest beginning the company has grown into a Tier 1/Tier 2 full service supplier of interior and air/fluid management systems for the global automotive industry, serving more than 20 international automotive customers.

TMD’s product lines include molding, assembly of a variety of air induction, powertrain cooling, front end module, washer, HVAC and under-hood components and systems.

“It was nice to visit with a couple of companies in Van Wert today,” Eikenbary noted after the visits. “Alliance Automation is proof that companies are succeeding in Ohio and that barriers to them creating jobs are being torn down.

Eikenbary added that, like Alliance Automation was informed today, many small businesses in Ohio have a tax cut coming to them, specifically a 50-percent small business deduction on their first $250,000 of business income.

“I look forward to seeing this benefit take shape for many small businesses in Ohio, including here in the Van Wert area,” Eikenbary said. “Alliance Automation and Toledo Molding & Die should be proud of their continued investments they are making here in the community.”