New plant to add 65 jobs to area by 2010

PRICHARD -- Allevard/Sogefi announced Wednesday it will construct a new plant to manufacture automotive filters, adding 65 jobs to the area by 2010.

The new plant represents a $7 million investment by the Italy-based company that already operates the Allevard Springs plant, which employs about 90 people and produces stabilization bars used in vehicles.

The filter plant will be built near the existing plant in the A. Michael Perry Industrial Park in Prichard.

Sogefi has 48 locations in 13 countries on four continents.

"Sogefi is an international company that could have located anywhere," said David Graley of the Huntington Area Development Council. But it decided to build its first engine filter systems production site in North America here in West Virginia.

Troy Thomas, plant manager of the existing plant who also will manage the new plant, said the company will begin hiring near the beginning of 2009. The new plant is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2009.

The jobs will start at about $10 an hour and are on the same pay scale as the current plant, he said.

Thomas thanked the West Virginia Development Office, HADCO, the Wayne County Commission and the Wayne County Economic Development Authority for providing incentives for the expansion project, including dollars for training programs. Marshall Community and Technical College will be involved in training workers for the plant, said Jerry McDonald of HADCO.

The state also provided low-interest financing and investment tax credits to facilitate the expansion, Thomas said.

The new plant will make diesel fuel filters, cabin air filters and oil filters for various carmakers. Its biggest contract is with Ford Motor Co., but others will include Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW and Mazda.

It's a strategic move that will benefit the Prichard facility right now with the low value of the dollar compared to the euro, Thomas said.

Gov. Joe Manchin dropped in for the announcement Wednesday, joining Sogefi officials from Europe, including CEO Emanuele Bosio, as well as Keith Drew, general manager of Sogefi Filtration and Pierre L'Alloret, commercial director of Sogefi Filtration. Graley of HADCO, Jim Booton of the Wayne County Commission and Kathleen McIntyre of Ford Motor Co. also spoke during the event.

Allevard Springs, a French company owned by Sogefi, first came to Prichard about six years ago after HADCO and the Wayne commission and development authority invested in a shell building in Prichard.

Sogefi invested $27 million in the Prichard project, including buying the 50,000-square-foot vacant shell building along old U.S. 52 and expanding it to a total of 215,000 square feet.

Being a small county with a limited budget, the region was taking a big chance in constructing that shell building six years ago, said Booton of the county commission. And "Allevard/Sogefi took a big chance on us," Booton said. "They've delivered more than they promised."

Graley thanked Manchin for taking the time to build a relationship with Sogefi, even visiting Italy.

"I must admit that was not a tough chore for me to visit Italy," Manchin said.

Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch Gov. Joe Manchin exchanges gifts with Sogefi CEO Emanuele Bosio during an event to announce a new Allevard/Sogefi plant Wednesday, May 7, 2008, in Prichard. The new plant will make automotive filters and bring 65 new jobs.