Auto parts company locates in Archbold

Company purchased former Cooper-Standard building, creates 28 new jobs

By STEVE COLON

Expositor Editor

Just as December unemployment rates for Fulton County climbed back up over 14 percent, a recent announcement of roughly 30 new jobs is welcome news indeed.

It was announced Monday that Sanoh America Inc. has purchased the former Cooper-Standard property in Archbold and will begin manufacturing automotive brake parts.

The company, part of Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd. Japan, received a 45 percent, six-year tax credit from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority. Sanoh in turn will create 28 full-time equivalent jobs bringing an additional $800,000 in new payroll.

The average wage for these jobs will be $14.35 an hour plus $8.65 an hour in benefits. The agreement also stipulates the company must maintain operations in Archbold for at least nine years.

"While this really is not a lot of jobs, obviously for those 30 people they are very important jobs," Archbold Mayor Jim Wyse said. "This is exciting for me to fill an empty building and because it provides a future for the automotive industry."

County Economic Development Director Lisa Arend sees any new jobs as good jobs.

"Thirty jobs for Fulton County right now - with the economic conditions what they are - is outstanding," she said.

Wyse estimates that Archbold alone once had between 600 and 700 jobs related to the automotive industry. Now, he says, the village has none. Recent closings of Cooper-Standard in May 2008, as well as the losses of Noble Automotive and Young Spring and Wire, left the village struggling for jobs.

"Sanoh does have a plant in Findlay," Wyse said. "They feel once the automotive industry rebounds those who were able to survive the recession will do well. I share that opinion and look forward to that recovery. As far as jobs, we'll take what we can get when we can get them."

Arend said Sanoh once purchased parts manufactured by Cooper-Standard in Archbold. When it closed, they went overseas for their products.

"By buying this facility in Archbold, they will now be able to produce that product for themselves," she said. "That was a big factor for Sanoh America as was the workforce of Fulton County."

Sanoh America has purchased the 249,000 square-foot building to handle processes currently done in Japan. Sanoh will make a fixed-asset investment of at least $3.56 million including $25 million in land acquisition, $1.25 million in building acquisition and $2.06 million in machinery and equipment.

As part of the agreement, Archbold and Fulton County will provide Sanoh a $30,000 recruitment and training grant through the Workforce Development Office.

Parent company Sanoh Japan produces chassis, brake and fuel products as well as braze power train components. It operates 42 plants in 19 countries.

Sanoh America employs 1,039 with $184 million in annual sales.