Aerospace Company Plans to Hire 600 and Invest $100 million in Stillwater Manufacturing Center
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July 09, 2012
By TRENTON SPERRY
Tulsa World Correspondent
tulsaworld.com
7/9/2012 STILLWATER
ASCO Industries, a privately owned designer and manufacturer of aerospace components, made the announcement Monday at a news conference at the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce.The company purchased the former Mercury Marine plant in Stillwater, and plans to hire 250 employees and invest $60 million upgrading the facility by spring 2014.
The company expects to invest another $30 million to $40 million by 2015 and add about an additional 350 jobs. ASCO believes the average salary will be about $45,000 for CBC, engineering and assembly employees. The company expects most of the jobs will be filled by Oklahomans.
Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb joined representatives from the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce at the news conference to praise the company’s decision.
“This announcement was not by accident,” Lamb said. “The local leadership was very aggressive in pursuing ASCO and making sure that they would land right here in Stillwater, Oklahoma.”
The lieutenant governor said the move will have a large impact on the state’s booming aerospace industry.
“Aerospace in Oklahoma has an over $12 billion economic impact, with exports of $4.4 billion to 170 countries,” he said. “What is good for Stillwater is good for our entire state.”
The company’s goal is to begin hiring in September for 250 design and manufacturing positions. The plant will house “machining, heat and surface treatment, and assembly operations for complex machined parts made of titanium, steel and aluminum,” according to a news release.
ASCO is still establishing a hiring process, and anyone interested in applying for a position at the facility is encouraged to submit an application to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.
ASCO expects to reach full production by spring of 2014. They will work with the Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater to train employees through the school’s product development and machining program.
The company purchased the Mercruiser manufacturing facility, at 3003 N. Perkins Road. It was abandoned by Mercury Marine in December 2011. ASCO cited the standing structure as contributing to its decision to move to the state.
Stillwater Mayor John Bartley said reusing the empty site will have a larger impact on the community than an influx of jobs.
“It was an emotional and economic hit when Mercruiser left,” Bartley said. “This not only fills that void, but I think it catapults us forward because of what it can mean for the future.”
Gov. Mary Fallin wasn’t at the announcement in Stillwater, but she issued a statement from London, where’s she is attending an international aerospace convention.
“I am thrilled to welcome ASCO to the Oklahoma community,” Fallin said in the statement. “Oklahoma has one of the strongest aerospace sectors in the U.S., and we are quickly becoming an international destination for the industry.”
About ASCO
Headquarters: Zaventem, Belgium
Employees: 1,250
Incorporated: 1954
Subsidiaries: Located in Germany and Canada. Also has service offices in Brazil, France and the United States.
About ASCO: The private company integrates several steps of the supply chain process for aircraft components. The companies work includes design, development, precision machining, processing and assembly of high strength metallic aircraft components, according to a press release.
Company website: http://www.asco.be/Applying for a job: The company is establishing a hiring process. Right now, interested applicants can contact the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission at 888-980-9675 or check its website at tulsaworld.com/oesc.Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=45&articleid=20120709_45_0_STILLW373973
