A New Jersey company with business ties to the area has acquired the Empire Architectural facade and metal wall manufacturing facility in the Crossroads Industrial Park and plans to expand the work force.
Northern Architectural Systems of Teterboro recently purchased Empire’s equipment and inventory and is already manufacturing in the 50,000-square-foot facility.
A ribbon cutting to be attended by an array of state and local officials will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at the plant.
NAS spokeswoman Bridget Hudzik said the staff, now fewer than 20 workers, is expected to expand to at least 50 people. Officials said NAS has a longstanding relationship with Fonda-based Kasson & Keller, a window and door manufacturer.
“It’s manufacturing jobs — that’s what we’re excited about,” said Fulton County Chamber of Commerce President Wally Hart.
Michael Reese, executive vice president of the Fulton County Economic Development Corp., said Empire was winding down operations in Fulton County and looking for a buyer. Northern stepped in over the winter and began operations in the last few weeks, officials said.
Reese said Northern has applied for certification in the state’s Empire Zone program, which provides tax credits.
Depending on the economy, Hudzik said, the staff may eventually exceed 50.
As part of Thursday’s ceremony, Hudzik said, Northern’s first order at the Gloversville plant will be displayed on a trailer ready for transport to the customer. The ribbon-cutting announcement promotes Northern as “building energy-efficient facades from the ground up.”
Hudzik said the company manufactures windows and other products at its New Jersey plant.
The company’s Web site discusses its “project-based approach to manufacturing” and its ability to fill orders of any size. Northern has been recognized the past three years as one of New Jersey’s top 50 “Fastest Growing Companies,” the site notes.
Categories: Business, Schenectady County
