A local manufacturing plant - ready to roll with a new production line - is looking to hire both production jobs and specialty tradespeople.
An expansion at TitanX Engine Cooling Inc. means more production of its heavy-truck components for its committed customer base around the world, and local leaders are also hailing Thursday's announcement as a sign of confidence from foreign investors in the local economy.
With other plant sites considered by the international corporation, Empire State Development offered TitanX a $1.5 million capital grant, and the corporation is also expected to receive $6.1 million in Empire Zone tax credits that were certified in 2010. The new manufacturing and engineering wing will cost $6.65 million.
County Executive Greg Edwards and colleagues from the county Industrial Development Agency looked favorably on the promise of retaining more than 300 local employees, as well as 40 new specialty jobs that will be filled shortly.
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"We have not only survived the recession, we have come out of it stronger, growing opportunities and our market share, and beginning to take advantage of all the hard work that went into surviving the recession," Edwards said. "These are very important jobs for the people of Chautauqua County - jobs that were retained during the recession, and equally important are the jobs that are being increased here at TitanX."
Edwards cited an 18-month partnership between the Sweden-based company and the local levels of government that produced the grants and credits.
TitanX Chief Executive Officer Stefan Nordstrom said his corporation has invested $7.5 million since it first refitted the former Valeo site in Jamestown in 2008. In anticipation of the new expansion, it had already welcomed back 48 union workers that were laid off in 2010 and hired an additional 104 employees locally.
TitanX employs 855 workers between its North American operation in Jamestown along with two plants and its corporate headquarters in Sweden.
Matt Moore, president of the local TitanX facility, said the company will be able to expand its production of heat exchangers for 11- and 13-liter engines and it will also roll out products designed for 15-liter engines - with new customers in mind worldwide. He said the constant evolution of emissions standards is also dictating the increase in the size of radiators and other cooling devices.
Said Moore: "We are going to change the maximum size heat exchanger we can build from 1.2.-by-1.2 meters to 1.7-by-1.7. And we think that is probably the last time we will have to do that, because that's about the distance between the headlights."
Edwards said people who may be visiting from abroad or returning to see their former home should consider the potential of a secure job at a local company in Chautauqua County.
"If you have friends and family that are visiting here with us over this holiday weekend, tell them about it and connect with them," he said, "because they have an opportunity to come and not only enjoy great jobs here, but what Chautauqua County has, by way of its quality of life that cannot be matched."
Andy Johnson, human resources coordinator, said engineering, technical, purchasing and production jobs are available. Those interested in the latter occupation can apply at ChautauquaWorks, and the others are posted directly at titanx.com/Jamestown-career.aspx.
