Hypertherm of Lebanon expects construction costs for its new 156,000-square-foot Heater Road facility to top $35 million dollars. The company has already awarded three bids totaling $10.3 million dollars, overseen by Middlebury, Vermont-based Bread Loaf Construction. Construction is already underway with completion planned for September 2012. The new facility is ultimately expected to contain more than 150 advanced manufacturing machines and to foster the eventual creation of up to 500 new jobs.
"This is further evidence that New Hampshire, which has the nation's fastest growing economy, is a great place to grow a business, Governor John Lynch said. We need to be doing all we can to create jobs and get more of our people back to work and this new project is another way we are doing just that.
Hypertherm is pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification for the new facility and is taking other steps to make the facility a model of environmental sustainability, consistent with its core values and environmental leadership goals.
Hypertherm's success is built on the effort of our associates and the resources available to us. We have a responsibility to treat the world respectfully and responsibly, said Barbara Couch, Hypertherm's VP of corporate social responsibility. Leadership in community and environmental stewardship are core values at Hypertherm a business model we hope others will follow. Simply stated, businesses do well while doing good.
The Heater Road facility is designed to accommodate Hypertherm's growth in a number of areas. In addition to adding capacity to meet growing global demand for Hypertherm's products, it will help expand Hypertherm's research and development capabilities and help meet a host of customer focused needs including meeting space, a showcase for Hypertherm products, and two state-of-the-art training classrooms and amphitheater. The space will allow for integrated teamwork-everything from engineering to production-under one roof. It will also include an Innovation and Product Application Center, state-of-the-art research and development labs, and a new data center.
The focus on sustainability in the building design and site plan will lower operating costs and improve efficiency while preserving the environment and enhancing the community. For example, LEED certification, promotes the procurement of vendors and materials within a 500-mile radius of the project. New labs will recycle water through filtration and heat capture instead of flushing 40,000 gallons of water a day, and the new production machines will be more energy efficient.
During these difficult times, Hypertherm has established a successful apprenticeship program that has trained and educated hundreds of workers in the Upper Valley area and is looking to expand its workforce in the coming year. Hypertherm's new facility on Heater Road not only reinforces its focus on economic growth but underscores the company's commitment to sustainability and preserving our environment. I applaud Hypertherm for its efforts, said U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. I am proud to support businesses like Hypertherm that are helping spur economic growth through innovation and investment. This is a great New Hampshire success story and a sign that our economy is getting back on track.
Once complete, the facility will provide space for up to 500 full-time jobs for NH and Vermont residents as it reaches full potential in coming years. These will include research and development, engineering, marketing, CNC machining and assembly positions. Hypertherm will rely heavily on its close partnerships with River Valley Community College and the federal and state governments of NH and Vermont to meet local workforce development needs.
Hypertherm has been an excellent partner in pursuing state policy goals to employ and train individuals in need of good paying jobs and in helping to refuel the stagnant economy, according to George Bald, Commissioner of New Hampshire's Department of Resources & Economic Development. Over time as Hypertherm adds up to 500 new jobs this will translate into support for 500 families. The impact is terrific.
Hypertherm designs and manufactures advanced metal cutting systems for use in a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive repair. Its product line includes handheld and mechanized plasma and laser systems, consumables, as well as CNC motion and height controls and cutting software. Hypertherm systems are trusted for performance and reliability that results in increased productivity and profitability for tens of thousands of businesses. The New Hampshire based company's reputation for metal cutting innovation dates back more than 40 years, to 1968, with Hypertherm's invention of water injection plasma cutting. The company, consistently named a best place to work, has more than 1,000 associates along with operations and partner representation worldwide.
Hypertherm Launches Big Expansion
Published Thursday May 5, 2011
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