The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF)
Invensys' Safetran plant still growing The dynamic growth already experienced at Invensys Rail North America’s local Safetran plant has amazed local observers, and the good news for the Marion economy is that it’s not over.
The company, which makes products for railroad and mass transit systems, has ballooned from about 50-employee manufacturer just over a year ago to 180 jobs and growing.
“We will be over 200 by summer,” said Plant Manager Jeff Waldrop.
In an economy where job losses have been the norm, Invensys has blossomed in Marion. The company has recently brought in four manufacturing lines from a facility that’s closing in California and there are plans to shift another three lines here in the coming months. The growth so far has all been part of a major expansion announced last summer by Gov. Steve Beshear and Invensys corporate officials.
The way things are shaping up now, there could be even more escalation in manufacturing operations in Marion.
“We actually have more manufacturing going on here than at our headquarters in Louisville,” Waldrop explained.
The company is bidding on new contracts for new communications towers that might lead to even more manufacturing lines in Marion. If that happens, Waldrop says Safetran will be busting at the seams, literally, despite a just completed $2.8 million expansion and renovation project at its plant in the industrial park.
“If all of that happens, we may be looking for some more room,” he said while walking across a freshly painted floor in the plant that was once Moore Business Forms, Par 4 Plastics and Marion Mining Bolts.
Invensys came to Marion in 2002 not long after Tyco International closed its plant here. The rail company wanted to keep building in Marion an electronic relay it was buying from Tyco. Eight years later, Invensys has the equivalent of five manufacturing divisions now producing products in Marion.
Relays remain the nucleus of the operation, but the company also makes products for mass transit systems, locomotive equipment and wayside devices for tracks. Most of the goods are highly technical electronics, but the company makes other more familiar items such as railroad crossing lights.
“I would characterize it as low volume, high mix,” Waldrop said.
Jerry Peter, the human resources manager, said the company will continue hiring over the next few weeks, but thinks recruitment will plane off by summer. There’s a chance, however, for future growth when Invensys starts developing products for Positive Train Control – a remote control system – which the government is mandating for rail lines in the near future.
So far, the growth has put numerous local people to work despite double-digit unemployment rates. Marion residents make up the bulk of the workforce, Peter said, but Princeton, Paducah and Evansville supply several employees. Seven workers have relocated with the company from Florida and two from California.
“We’ve been talking to a couple more in California who may come here,” Peter added.
Waldrop says it’s important to keep experienced hands working on the product lines that are moving here. While the company manufactures new items, it also does diagnostics and repairs for used products such as End of Train devices.
Waldrop says Safetran has a great reputation for building long-lasting products that operate in a brutal environment along railroad tracks. It manufactures in excess of 200 different products and many variations of some of those items.
Livingston County getting new library Groundbreaking for a new Livingston County Library and County Office building will be held next month with plans on completing the facility in September of 2011.
A ceremony will be held at 1 p.m., May 21 in Smithland to kickoff the more than $3.8 million construction project.
Livingston County Fiscal Court is in charge of the library and county office project.
“The fiscal court is extremely proud to be able to bring such a worthwhile project to the community. Construction prices are extremely good and the magistrates and I were excited to see these new facilities get underway,” said Livingston Judge-Executive Chris Lasher.
“We were one of the last communities in the State of Kentucky without a library and our court clerk, PVA, sheriff, county attorney and judge-executive’s offices were completely out of space,” Lasher added. “So everyone is proud to bring modern facilities for our constituents to utilize.”
Lasher said a great deal of teamwork went into the project.
“It has been a great honor to work with each and every one on this office building and library,” he said. “We are truly looking forward to construction getting started.”
A Library Exploratory Committee works with the fiscal court, and the county will pay the bills for the new library as well as the staff.
The library will provide books, audio books, DVDs and computers for public use. There will be Internet along with wireless capabilities, so the public can bring in their own laptops and work online. There are plans of having children’s story hour, lectures and seminars.
“As a mother of five children, and as much as I love to read, I am thrilled to be getting a library close to home,” said Friends of Library President Angela Zimmerman. “We make frequent trips to McCracken County Library and cannot wait to be able to stop at the one in our town whenever we like.
“The opportunities are endless,” Zimmerman added. “With so many residents unable to receive high speed Internet, this will allow them a chance to continue their education or search for employment.”
Friends of the Library has worked closely with the fiscal court, and is responsible for obtaining money to furnish the library with books, furniture, computers and special programs. Friends officers are President Zimmerman, Vice President Nancy Smith, Treasurer Teri Walker, Secretary Stacey Nickel and board members Connie Owens, Bill McIntire and Tracy Jordan.
“I would like to thank Chris Lasher and the members of the fiscal court for all their hard work,” Zimmerman added. “So much has gone on behind the scenes to make this possible.”
Anyone interested in joining Friends of the Livingston County Library may contact Zimmerman at atzimmerman@yahoo.com.