Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns vs. Lions live …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Robiskie, Harrison inactive
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Sunday Sanity Challenge
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (69) The Brookings Institute Study on "Bending the Curve" – Four General Strategies
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
A Random Rant on Testing
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Company relocates headquarters to Hudson with plans to expand its product line
By Paula Schleis
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008
The soft economy might have a lot of folks second-guessing plans to improve their homes or build new ones, but a local supplier to the nation's building industry is banking on future growth.
Norandex Building Materials Distribution has just finished moving from its headquarters in Macedonia to new and larger corporate offices in Hudson.
President Brian Chambers says the move fits into the company's plans to pursue more markets and expand its product line.
''We wanted a corporate office that would support that growth,'' he said.
The 47,000-square-foot facility on Executive Parkway West — the former corporate office for Dairy Mart Convenience Stores — also includes an expanded training facility to support the educational needs of 1,400 employees working in 150 branches in 37 states.
''Even in tough economic times, we want to be investing in our people,'' he said.
Chambers said Norandex started looking for a new facility last fall after being acquired by Saint-Gobain, a multinational corporation based in France. Norandex was previously owned by Owens Corning.
At the time of the sale, there was some discussion as to whether the division's headquarters would remain here, but the company's core talent was in place and Northeast Ohio is logistically a good central location, Chambers said.
And Hudson in particular ''has a reputation as one of the best places in the Midwest for employers to do business,'' he said.
Chambers said there's no doubt that economic conditions — specifically, the worst housing market in decades — have been difficult, and revenue is below last year's pace.
''The good news,'' he said, ''is we're starting to see some stabilization'' and Norandex will be ready to take advantage.
About 15 of the 85 positions in the corporate office were added in the past year, Chambers said.
''We've added people . . . to give us the ability to expand locations and product offerings,'' he said.
Norandex currently sells a range of exterior building products to builders and contractors, including siding, windows and doors. In addition to adding new brands to its traditional catalogue, Norandex is reaching into new areas that include decking, manufactured stone and roofing.
Norandex was founded in 1946 as the Weathertite Co. Last year, it became part of the Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Sector, which has more than 4,000 outlets in 24 countries.
Saint-Gobain is parent to five other area companies: Saint-Gobain Grains & Powders in Canton; Saint-Gobain Norpro in Stow; Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics in Ravenna and Akron; Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics in Dover; and Saint-Gobain Crystals in Hiram and Solon.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
The soft economy might have a lot of folks second-guessing plans to improve their homes or build new ones, but a local supplier to the nation's building industry is banking on future growth.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
