BY THE NUMBERS
A Cincinnati-area materials testing company plans to consolidate its regional operations into a single site in Fairfield and renovate the Fairfield facilities to accommodate the move.
$2.5 million investment at stake by Element Materials Technology to renovate its facilities at 3701 Port Union Road in Fairfield.
75% property tax abatement for 6 years on property improvements under consideration by Fairfield City Council
120 total jobs to potentially be on site, after Element relocates employees from other Cincinnati-area locations to Fairfield and expands
A Cincinnati-area materials testing company plans to consolidate its regional operations into a single site in Fairfield, and invest millions to renovate the existing Fairfield building for the move, according to the city.
Element Materials Technology acquired earlier this year Accutek Testing Laboratory, located at 3701 Port Union Road in Fairfield.
Now, Element wants to relocate its other area operations in Sharonville and Woodlawn to Port Union Road. The project would increase the number of employees working at the Butler County site from more than 40 existing workers to about 70, according to city records. Additionally, it’s expected that once the renovation project is complete, about 10 new jobs could be created for a total approximately 120 jobs at the Fairfield company.
Fairfield City Council was scheduled to consider Monday night a property tax abatement for Element Materials to incentivize the local investment plans. The city’s economic development department has recommended the local government enter a tax incentive agreement that would provide Element Materials a six-year, 75 percent abatement on any property improvements. Also, as part of the deal, the company would still compensate Fairfield City School District and Butler Technology and Career Development Schools.
“The company is looking to invest nearly $2.5 million into the facility. They’re going to retain existing jobs and relocate and create new ones in the city of Fairfield,” said Greg Kathman, the city’s economic development manager.
Element and Accutek test materials for other businesses in the medical device, aerospace, power generation and manufacturing industries. Those businesses hire Element to run tests for strength, endurance and signs of wear and tear on their materials and parts, such as knee and hip implants, helicopter parts and jet engine components.
When Accutek expanded its Fairfield facility in 2013, President John McCloy said there was a large and growing demand for testing due to new and more advanced materials, government regulations, and advancements in testing technology.
Accutek, now known as Element Materials, also benefits from corporations that, looking to cut costs, outsource their product testing to independent testers like Element.
“Fairfield wins on this one because they get a whole lot of new employees,” said McCloy, who will retire later this month.
“They’re going to build out the southwest corner another 5,000- or 8,000-square-feet… and then they’re going to move everybody here,” McCloy said.
London-based Element Materials has completed seven acquisitions since 2011, and Accutek’s laboratory became Element’s 44th facility worldwide, according to the international company.
“It’s a great opportunity because we get to share resources and so we have that synergy and we’ll provide to a lot more range of resources to the clients,” McCloy said about the acquisition. “It’s an opportunity for all the young professionals here to learn more and grow with an international flair.”
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