Local, state and federal officials gathered in Tiffin Thursday to tour a local business which recently went through a $1.6 million expansion and plans to add jobs to the area.
Fred Zoeller, president of Laminate Technologies, said the business had an open house to showcase the 28,000-square-foot expansion, which increases the business by 30 percent and adds equipment for a focus on the store fixture market.
"We're making an investment in Tiffin and the community," he said.
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Laminate Technologies Quality Control Manager Roland Klein (left) talks to U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, (center) and State Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville, during an open house Tuesday.
Zoeller said he hopes to add a minimum of 20 jobs to handle the equipment used in the new line.
"This is more labor intensive than some of the other things we've done. It requires more master craftsmen," he said.
Ground was broken for the project in the spring and Zoeller said the occupancy permit was issued last Tuesday.
In attendance Thursday was State Rep. Rex Damschroder, R-Fremont; State. Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville; U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana; Tiffin City Councilman Jim Roberts; and Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz. Zoeller said their support showed government and business working together.
Montz said he also was happy to see the political representation the event attracted, saying he feels Lam Tech is helping put Tiffin on the map as an economic leader.
"The fact that all of these high-ranking politicos came shows that Tiffin really has it going on," he said.
Montz said it was "just very exciting" to see the manufacturer expand and bring more jobs to the area. During a city council meeting Tuesday, he praised expansion by Lam Tech and other local businesses, potentially bringing 300 additional jobs within the next 12 months.
