The Economy

Maker of Heat Exchangers Moving from Connecticut to N.C.

March 15, 2010

Turbotec Products Inc., a Windsor, Conn.-based supplier of heat exchangers and heat-transfer products, will move the bulk of its manufacturing operations from Connecticut to Hickory, N.C., adding 73 jobs and investing $6.5 million in the next three years.

Josh Cable

The company, which has a manufacturing plant in Connecticut and a facility in Hickory that employs 16 workers, plans to relocate to a larger facility in Hickory, according to the Catawba County Economic Development Corp. Turbotec plans to purchase a 100,000-square-foot facility in the Fairgrove Business Park, investing $3.5 million in building up-fit and equipment.

While the salaries will vary, the 73 jobs to be created will have an average salary of $37,403 a year, excluding the benefits package, which is above the Catawba County average annual wage of $32,500.

Turbotec is excited about the expansion of its manufacturing presence in North Carolina, said Sunil Raina, president of Turbotec. We see the availability of a trained manufacturing workforce in Catawba County as a major plus for the company in the coming years. With this move, we will be better able to serve our expanding customer base, especially in the Southern United States.

To assist with the expansion, the company received a $76,500 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. Any local incentives will be based on job creation and investment performance standards and will be considered in public session at a later date, according to the Catawba County Economic Development Corp.

About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.