Other expansions.

AuthorMayer, Kathy
PositionNortheast Indiana Update: The region's top business stories - Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. spends $29.5 million to expand its operation - Novozymes Biologicals, Inc. to triple its production capacity - Honeyville Metal Inc. spends 2 million on an expansion

A $275 million expansion project is under way at the Steel Dynamics structural and rail mill at Columbia City. A second rolling mill and caster operation will double the mill's annual production capacity to 2 million tons, says John Nolan, vice president and general manager of the mill. In 2006 the mill shipped 1 million tons. Now employing 490, the facility is expected to employ 650 when completed.

Also in Columbia City, Micropulse is adding 47,000 square feet to its plant that makes medical devices, surgical instruments and orthopedic implants. Now employing 150, the company plans to continue adding 20 to 25 workers a year, says Betty Mishler, administrative assistant at Whitley County Economic Development Corp.

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Nestle-owned Edy's Grand Ice Cream is spending $29.5 million to expand its Fort Wayne Operations Center, bringing 65 new jobs to the plant's current workforce of 300. When the 30,000-square-foot addition is completed in July, the company will add a new Nestle Drumstick production line.

In Adams County, Macklin reports three expansions: Strick Corp. in Monroe, which employs 340 and is adding 100 to 125 in the next 18 months at its growing semi-trailer plant; FCC in Berne, which makes clutch assemblies and employs 50; and Key Fasteners, also in Berne, which makes auto nuts and bolts and employs 80. "We have a lot of rewards here," Macklin says. "We're fortunate to have stable and solid industries."

Three expansions top the local growth list in Angola, reports Gary Nielander, executive director of the Steuben County Economic Development Corp. Vestil Manufacturing's $8.2 million expansion brings 104 new jobs to the 425-employee plant and signals the company's intention to remain in Indiana, he says. It makes dock, drum-handling and material-handling equipment.

Tenneco Automotive Operating Co. is spending $6 million on new equipment to make its anti-vibration controls for autos and increasing its workforce of 167 by 57. And Wolf Envelope is investing $1.8 million on high-speed color jet printers and adding 26 to its 82-employee payroll. The Angola plant currently makes more than 1 billion envelopes a year.

Carol Pugh, executive director of Huntington County United Economic Development, reports the county's three top expansions.

CFM USA, which operates a fireplace-insert manufacturing facility in Huntington and employs 250, is now moving its headquarters to the city, bringing 214 new jobs. Building improvements...

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