CLEARFIELD – One of the largest European manufacturers of metal powders is currently in the process of developing preliminary plans to open its first North American operation in Clearfield.
Makin Metal Powders Ltd., a United Kingdom-based company, has purchased about 10 acres of land at 1670 Industrial Park Rd., in the Lawrence Township Industrial Park where it plans to open a new plant to serve the United States and Canada.
The announcement was made by Rob Swales, chief executive officer of Clearly Ahead Development, the county’s economic development entity, during Tuesday’s commissioners’ workshop meeting.
Makin Metal Powders plans to construct a 75,000-square-foot plant and to make an initial capital investment of approximately $10 million, which Swales said, is also expected to create 50 manufacturing jobs.
According to its Web site, Makin Metal Powders (UK) Ltd., located in Rochdale, United Kingdom, manufactures copper powder, bronze powder, tin powder, infiltrants and press-ready, pre-mix powders, along with other related alloys. As part of the GRINM family of companies, it’s one of the largest European producers of copper and copper alloy powders.
Swales said Makin Metal Powders manufactures the materials used by the numerous powdered metal manufacturing businesses in Clearfield and central Pennsylvania, which will give this region a real competitive advantage.
“It’s going to be a non-ferrous powder and they’ll be concentrating their mixes with copper, brass and bronze product,” he explained. “… They’ll be atomizing high-grade scrap material into a powder form. It’ll be a major user as a recycling component, as well.”
Swales said it was a lengthy site selection process for Clearly Ahead, which partnered with the state’s Office of International Business Development about 18 months ago.
“It was a multi-state and multi-national competition that was whittled down to two sites – Pennsylvania and Ohio,” he said. “And we had Clearfield County really rise to the top with our proximity to markets.”
Though multiple site visits have occurred already, he said Makin Metal Powders will return to the area next month to make progression on its new facility and to meet with other local manufacturers.
“This is really a major accomplishment,” said Commissioner Mark B. McCracken. “This is an international company with international investors that’s going to be locating here in Clearfield County.”
In other business, the commissioners:
- proclaimed May as National Foster Care Month.
- proclaimed May 5-11 as National Travel & Tourism Week.
- proclaimed May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
- approved a copier lease agreement with Doing Better Business for Magisterial District Judge Mike Morris’ office.
- approved an agreement for services at the county jail.
- approved liquid fuel allocations to Gulich Township ($3,296.97); DuBois City ($8,590.01); Boggs Township ($4,382.56); Curwensville Borough ($4,526.78); and Jordan Township ($3,764.82).