State lauds LEWCO

SANDUSKY — Several state officials, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, recently announced plans for a major, multimillion-dollar expansion at LEWCO in Sandusky and LogistiQ — pronounced like "logistic," it's a division of LEWCO — in Port Clinton. Collectively, they're considered by industry professionals and business experts as leading manufacturers of conveyors and industrial ovens, according to a statement from state officials. "To meet rapidly growing demand, the investment of more than $24 million is expected to create 208 new jobs," the statement read. It breaks down with about: • About "170 new positions will be at LogistiQ in Port Clinton where the team focuses on material handling solutions for parcel and e-commerce." • "The additional jobs (38) will be created at LEWCO's headquarters and industrial oven manufacturing facility in Sandusky." "LEWCO has deep roots in Ohio and has continued to invest and grow here for more than a century," said DeWine, referencing how LEWCO's origins date back to 1917 when founded in Sandusky. "With this expansion, LEWCO and LogistiQ will boost capacity and efficiencies to ensure its world-class industrial ovens and conveyor systems continue to be built here and delivered to its customers around the globe," DeWine said. A collaborative approach Many entities across the region and state — including JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development, Team NEO (northeast Ohio), the Regional Growth Partnership, the Greater Sandusky Partnership and the Ottawa County Improvement Corp. — all worked together to make this expansion possible, the statement read. "We are sincerely grateful for the strong support from all of the economic development partners who assisted us in moving this project forward," LogistiQ president Emily Guerra Martucci said. "As we continue investing in our facilities, optimizing operations and expanding our workforce, we remain committed to growing in Ohio and building a long-term foundation of opportunity for the community we proudly call home." High demand is particularly being driven by several of the nation's largest e-commerce and parcel logistics companies. They rely on the company's advanced conveyor technology, design software and advanced processes, the statement read. "This expansion is a strategic investment in LEWCO's long-term growth," said Jude Guerra, LEWCO vice president of sales. "In addition to the growth of pallet-handling conveyor, demand for our industrial ovens has drastically accelerated across nearly every market we serve, especially in aerospace, defense and manufacturers supporting the electrical power grid," Guerra added. He continued: "These systems are large, highly engineered pieces of equipment that require substantial floor space to build. By increasing our manufacturing capacity now, we're positioning LEWCO to handle this surge in order volume while continuing to deliver the high-quality, American-made solutions our customers rely on." The new operations will include opportunities in engineering, project management, office support, assembly and welding. These positions represent high-skill, high-value opportunities that allow LEWCO and LogistiQ to expand their manufacturing and integration capabilities while keeping this work anchored in northern Ohio. "We, along with our partners at the Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO, appreciate the strong collaboration with the state and with the Port Clinton and Sandusky communities to ensure LEWCO and LogistiQ continue to grow and succeed in Ohio," JobsOhio president and CEO J.P. Nauseef said. "LEWCO's continued investment in its Port Clinton and Sandusky facilities reflects its confidence in both regions' workforce and its ability to adapt and compete in a rapidly evolving economy," Nauseef added. The LogistiQ expansion in Port Clinton will assist the company's commitment to advance vertical integration while keeping design, engineering, fabrication, assembly and testing under one roof, ensuring tighter quality control and faster lead times for its customers, the statement read. The investment also strengthens LEWCO's industrial oven production line and its headquarters footprint in Sandusky. On a related note, to support this expansion, Sandusky officials recently approved a tax break for LEWCO so it could support the $7.5 million commitment of this overall $24 million investment at its headquarters on Lane Street. These types of deals "provide incentives to private enterprise to promote and encourage expansion of business for the creation and/or preservation of jobs and economic development," city community development director Colleen Gilson said.