The North American leader for fiberglass rebar has announced plans to open its first Ohio facility in Williams County.
V-Rod USA will invest more than $7 million at a new location in Edon, Ohio, to manufacture composite rebars for the U.S. market. The company is expected to create at least 60 jobs over time upon moving into a 127,000 square-foot facility.
With headquarters in the Quebec province of Canada, V-Rod chose to establish a second U.S. facility, this one in Northwest Ohio, to better serve the American market. President and CEO Bernard Drouin said the company wants to accommodate U.S. customers with Build America Buy America products.
“We are bringing our technology to Edon to provide Ohio and all of the country with U.S.-made fiberglass rebar,” Drouin said. He added that with growing customer demand and having reached capacity at its other plants, the company needed to enhance production and find a new facility.
V-Rod USA is a division of Pultrall, describing itself as the No. 1 fiberglass rebar supplier in the industry. It primarily serves the construction market, specifically bridge and viaduct infrastructure.
In choosing to invest in Northwest Ohio, Drouin recognized Ohio’s business-friendly environment, as well as the strong collaboration and support among state and regional partners, including JobsOhio, the Regional Growth Partnership, Williams County Economic Development and the Ohio EPA.
“V-Rod USA’s decision to establish its first Ohio facility in Williams County is a testament to Northwest Ohio’s exceptional manufacturing environment and the strength of its regional workforce. With more than $7 million being invested and 60 jobs on the way, this investment will strengthen Ohio’s role in supplying the nation’s bridge and infrastructure needs with American-made products.”
– J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio President and CEO
Drouin expects operations to be at full capacity by the beginning of next summer.
“Williams County Economic Development continues to focus on attracting foreign direct investment as a way to grow our local economy and strengthen our manufacturing sector,” said Ashley Eppling, executive director, Williams County Economic Development Corporation. “Projects like V-Rod USA’s investment in Edon show how our region can compete globally by offering strong workforce resources, available facilities, and supportive partnerships with organizations like JobsOhio and the Regional Growth Partnership. Investments like this bring new jobs, new technology, and long-term opportunity to Williams County.”
About the Regional Growth Partnership
The Regional Growth Partnership is the lead economic development organization serving 17 counties in Northwest Ohio. As a private nonprofit development corporation, the RGP is dedicated to fostering regional, national and international business investment opportunities across the region. The RGP serves as Northwest Ohio’s network partner for JobsOhio. Visit www.rgp.org for more information.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.