The companies are vastly different — one makes automotive parts and the other stores electronic data for businesses, schools and other organizations.
But both companies are coming to Akron, building facilities and creating dozens of jobs amid a weak economy.
Executives with Roechling Automotive USA and Involta LLC — the data storage company — will introduce themselves to the area business community at a Greater Akron Chamber Aug. 24 event titled Why Akron?
Involta, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, revealed its plans in the fall of last year, while Roechling officials chose Akron over other Ohio communities earlier this year.
Both companies have broken ground on their Akron facilities, with Involta building its data center in South Akron and Roechling constructing a production/warehouse building in the city’s Massillon Road Industrial Park.
Akron, in conjunction with state, local and regional partners, offered a package of incentives to both companies.
The $15 million, 85,000 square-foot, Roechling auto parts facility is set to open first — in December — according to a company spokeswoman. Plans call for the Involta building to be up and running in April.
The Roechling spokeswoman said that initial workforce will number about 30 to 40 people, and the company could employ as many as 123 skilled, hourly workers by the start of 2013.
Based on a $5 million payroll, workers, on average, will make $40,650 annually — about $20 an hour. Pay will be based on position and skill requirements, company officials have said.
The Roechling spokeswoman said the company will work with the state’s Job Center on East Tallmadge Avenue in Akron to hire employees.
Roechling officials have earlier said the company picked Akron because of the area’s polymer manufacturing history, the University of Akron’s College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, proximity to car manufacturing plants, and lower costs than in neighboring states, including Michigan.
Roechling, based in Mannheim, Germany, has annual sales of about $1.3 billion.
Chris Shroyer of Involta said this week that the Iowa company is planning to open its $20 million, 46,000-square-foot data storage facility in early April.
The initial payroll at the concrete structure off Miller Avenue will be about 15 and could grow to 50 to 60 employees — each making $60,000 to $70,000 a year — within a year or two after the opening.
The initial plan was to open in the fourth quarter of this year.
Shroyer, vice president of sales and marketing, said a lot of time has been spent on electrical work for the building that will house computer servers. The company’s data centers serve as primary storage sites for customers as well as back-up storage sites.
“This facility is going to have its own substation,” Shroyer said, noting that reliable power is critical for a data storage center.
Shroyer said the company is searching for a facility manager. After that person is hired, other positions will be filled.
Shroyer said the facility puts the company close to the Akron and Cleveland markets.
The Greater Akron Chamber’s Aug. 24 event is at Portage Country Club in Akron and is only open to chamber board members and select chamber members called investors. These members pay a minimum of $2,500 a year to the chamber. For more information, call the chamber at 330-376-5550.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com
