Officials hail opening of $100M Matalco plant

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

LORDSTOWN

A local, state, public and private partnership has led to another investment here.

This time, its an aluminum-billet company and metal recycling and processing business housed under one roof.

On Wednesday, company owners, state and local representatives cut the ribbon at The Giampaolo Group’s Matalco and Triple M Metal LP 225,000-square-foot, $100 million facility.

“This grand opening reflects the culmination of the financial investment, a lot of hard work from determined individuals who worked hard starting three years ago,” said Robert Roscetti, vice president of Matalco. “This is by far our largest investment.”

Exactly 10 years before cutting the ribbon to the newest Giampaolo Group company, the owners were opening the first Matalco location.

The Brampton, Ontario-based Giampaolo Group started to look at Northeast Ohio for expansion in 2013 and reached out to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.

In 2014, ground was broken for the new plant.

The incentive package and proximity to eight or nine customers led to investment here.

The Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit Authority approved tax credits for Matalco Inc. and it received an economic-development grant from Jobs- Ohio, the private, nonprofit organization that promotes job creation and economic development in the state.

The company was approved for a 50-percent, eight-year tax credit that would provide $450,000 in assistance from the state, according to Vindicator files.

Additionally, Lordstown approved a 75-percent, 10-year property-tax abatement.

“Congratulations to all of you who had any part to play,” said Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor at the event.

The newest location for the company at the Ohio Commerce Centre, 5120 Tod Ave. SW., opened in March and employs 50 people so far.

When the company hits full capacity at the end of 2018, it expects to have 80 employees.

The facility is a highly automated manufacturing plant filled with the latest technology on the market, Roscetti said, and the technology integrates together.

“This facility will be one of the most modern in the world,” said Mike Giampaolo, part owner of the group.

This year, the Lordstown Matalco facility is on target to produce 90 million pounds of product. Matalco has two other locations in Canada and Canton.

“With this plant, once we get to full capacity, we will be the largest [aluminium-billet producer] in terms of annual production,” Roscetti said.

Also in the crowd at the ribbon-cutting were local customers of Matalco, including Extrudex Aluminum of North Jackson were 250 are employed.

“It’s huge having a local supplier 5 miles down the road,” said Brian Carder, Extrudex general manager.

“We have a great partnership. It’s good for us and for the industry.”

Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill, referred to as the “billion-dollar mayor” at the event for all the recent investment in the village, called the plant “every mayor’s dream” because of the range of benefits for the community.

Access to rail, water, utilities, incentive programs and available land zoned correctly are all reasons why Hill believes Lordstown attracts companies.

Last week, Clean Energy Future had a groundbreaking for its $890 million Lordstown Energy Center power plant on Henn Parkway in the Lordstown Industrial Park.

“One principle I always had was to have a good dialogue with the companies who choose to make Lords-town their home,” Hill said.