AM Manufacturing Company, a dough processing machine builder for the food industry, announced plans today to relocate its headquarters from Dolton, Ill. to here, creating up to 40 new jobs by 2016.
The company will invest $2.28 million to lease, renovate and equip a 56,800 square-foot facility located at 9200 Calumet Ave. in Munster. The new facility, which will be operational this summer, will allow the company to move previously contracted work in house, as well as build a larger showroom to display machines for customers.
"When companies compare the cost of doing business between states, they quickly discover the competitive advantage they gain in Indiana," said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. "With our low tax climate, companies have the freedom to invest more of their earnings back into their operations. Add in our central location and skilled manufacturing workforce, and Indiana stands out as a state that works."
AM Manufacturing, which currently employs 30 full-time associates, plans to begin relocating jobs from its Dolton, Ill. facility and recruiting for assembly, electrical and machining positions later this year.
"We are a growing company adding square footage to make a more clean and efficient work flow to lower costs and improve output efficiency," said Holly Rentner, co-owner of AM Manufacturing.
AM Manufacturing was founded by Harold Atwood in 1961, when the company established its role in the baking industry with the development of the Scale-O-Matic Dough Divider, turning tedious manual tasks into efficient processes. Today the company continues to manufacture dough processing machines, which allow pizza crusts, tortilla shells and bagels to be mass-produced. A family-owned business and certified Women's Business Enterprise, AM Manufacturing serves bakeries, commissaries, restaurants and pizza parlors around the world.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered AM Manufacturing Company up to $400,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority supports the project through its Deal Closing Fund. The town of Munster approved additional incentives.
"The town of Munster is very pleased when an established company such as AM Manufacturing decides to move to our community," said John P. Reed, president of the Munster Town Council. "Town officials understand that such a move is never an easy decision for any company, and the town is very grateful that they chose Munster as their new base of operations. We look forward to working with AM Manufacturing in the future, and we are proud to welcome them to Munster. The state of Indiana and the Regional Development Authority have created an environment of cooperation that has increased, exponentially, our ability to attract business."
AM Manufacturing's announcement follows decisions from several Illinois companies, including Tec Air, Mac Medical Supply Company and Carl Buddig & Company, that announced plans to relocate operations to Munster. Together, these companies project to create nearly 400 new jobs, with investments of more than $19.6 million in the Hoosier State.
