A two-day open house marking completion of a $4 million expansion at Koike Aronson Inc.'s Arcade, NY, plant will be held May 16th and 17th. The Arcade plant makes welding and thermal cutting equipment for such uses as armored vehicles and nuclear, ethanol and windmills for the alternative-energy sector.
The work, which added 20,000 sq. ft. of new manufacturing space to accommodate equipment for a new line of large laser-cutting machines and a startup line of cutting tables, began last fall and was the plant's second addition in 12 months.
The open house also marks the 90th anniversary in business for Koike Aronson's Japanese parent company.
Manufacturing equipment was shipped to Arcade from Italy and Germany in recent months. The addition gives the facility 157,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, president and CEO Gerald Leary said. Eight jobs were created in the 170-member workforce.
When production is up to speed in mid-2008, the new work will add $8 million to $10 million in new business, Leary said.
The May 16 open house, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be for community and political leaders, and media representatives. Employees and their families and the public are invited to the May 17 open house, 9 a.m. to noon.