Local company invests $2M

BERLIN TWP. — A small business recently celebrated a massive expansion at its company headquarters in Berlin Heights, signaling a long-term commitment to its home base. Many employees, stakeholders and other supporters attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for AutoGate's latest investment. The company committed about $2 million to construct a new 15,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which includes new machinery and equipment, according to a company statement. The statement noted how this addition effectively doubled AutoGate's footprint on Driver Road. "Prior to construction, we were restricted in space limiting how our product flows through the facility in its various stages of production," company general manager Brian Fitz said. "Upgrading and modernizing our facility footprint will allow for competitive growth and the needed capacity to obtain it." This project, which added 24 jobs to AutoGate's team, served a necessary purpose. "The Department of Homeland Security continues to press for increased security hardening and mitigation of threats," the statement read. "AutoGate leverages their request by offering low-maintenance, long-lasting systems to their customers." Company co-owners Bill and Don Rodwancy, who are brothers, thanked everyone for showing up and supporting their business. "Our growth comes from the foundation that my father started, and that is reach out and make relationships, and keep those relationships strong," Don said. "The AutoGate team in its entirety was mentioned during the ceremony as the key component to the business' success." Bio blast The company provided some background and insight into its operation: Since 1986, AutoGate has been a Berlin Heights staple within Erie County. Founded by Robert Rodwancy, this family-owned business has been providing traditional slide and swing gate systems to some top business names throughout the country. Robert's sons, Bill and Don Rodwancy, work closely with their crew of dedicated employees to provide an exceptional product to their customers. With a reputation for quality, it is the leading manufacturer of Vertical Pivot Gate systems. Because of its niche product in security gates, it's no secret that the company's core focus is to provide security. With these latest investments, AutoGate is looking forward to a bright future. Continuing to maintain the growing momentum over the past several years, the Rodwancy family is on a path to remain a leading producer of their products.