DEKORON WIRE AND CABLE ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION

For Release Sept. 5, 2007

Nigel Christopher, President of Dekoron Wire & Cable, Inc. in Mount Pleasant announced today that the company would be making a major expansion to their manufacturing facility.  The company presently occupies approximately 70,000 square feet.  If all goes to plan the company will begin an expansion which will add an additional 74,000 sq. ft. making the facility over 140,000 sq. ft.  The expansion will allow the company to increase their capacity for the manufacture of instrumentation & control wiring and cable which is used primarily in oil production & refining, petrochemical plants and power plants around the world.  Dekoron is a leader in the field and their name is synonymous with a quality product.  The expansion will allow the company to increase the lengths of instrumentation cable they can produce as well as increase their capacity for “armored” cable.  Armored cable is a product that protects the wires with various layers of protective metal & plastic covering which helps prevent it from being damaged by underground excavation.

Dekoron came to Mount Pleasant in 1978 and moved into the building they now occupy which had previously been used to manufacture mobile homes.  The plant currently operates on a 24/7 schedule and employs over 60 people.  The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Marmon Group based in Chicago, Illinois.  In 2004 Dekoron began a process of improvement by adding and updating equipment, modifying the plant layout and existing facilities within the plant.  In addition the company added to their sales force by opening a sales office in Singapore and expanding sales representation within the USA and South America.  At the same time these improvements were being made growing worldwide demand for energy dictated the construction or expansion of many electric generating facilities and petroleum refineries. Christopher indicated the company has experienced a steady increase in business over the past four years and this increase dictated the expansion of the facility.

Early in 2007 Christopher notified the Mount Pleasant Industrial Foundation office that an expansion was being looked at for 2007-08.  In August the company submitted a project outline committing to the creation of 24 jobs within 24 months of completion and a total of 35 jobs in the next three years.  In addition the company estimated construction of the new facility and new equipment in the facility at $8.5 million dollars.  The IDC Board approved a $100,000 grant to the company upon fulfillment of these commitments.  In addition the Board will recommend to the City and County their consideration for a partial abatement of taxes on the new facility over a period of seven years.  Erman Hensel, Board President for the MPIDC, speaking for the Board, indicated a real pleasure and excitement in being able to offer these funds to an existing manufacturer, creating new jobs and new investment in this community. The City Council unanimously approved the action of the IDC Board on September 4 in their regular Council meeting.

Nigel Christopher has indicated that with this commitment the company will begin work on the expansion within the coming month.  Construction work is expected to be ongoing through March of 08 with new equipment being set in place March onwards. 

For Additional Information Contact:   Nigel Christopher  903-572-3475  Ext 102

Or Charles L. Smith, Exec Director Mt. Pleasant Industrial Foundation  903-572-6602