SALUTE TO INDUSTRY
Salute to Industry LUNCHEON Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield helped us honor local expanding industries at the Chamber’s Annual Salute to Industry Luncheon, Sept. 25. Industries honored at the Oxford Civic Center event included Kronospan, Bridgewater Interiors, Bear and Son Cutlery, Gnutti-Shelco Foundries, International Automotive Components, and Tyler Union.
The Chamber partnered with the Calhoun County Economic Development Council to honor existing area industries that have expanded in the last year.
growth of the existing industry sector demonstrates our region’s resiliency and ability to rebound after one of the worst economic recessions our country has ever experienced.
Over the past 18 months, Calhoun County has been extremely fortunate to witness the substantial growth of our existing industries with the creation of 900+ new jobs. The
These six existing industries were honored for their exceptional growth and support of our region.
KRONOSPAN Kronospan is the world’s largest manufacturer of wood panel products and laminate flooring. Beginning in 1897 as a sawmill in Austria, their location in Oxford is the company’s first in the United States. At the Oxford facility, Kronospan manufactures medium density fiberboard and high density fiberboard that can be used in a wide variety of applications including furniture, laminate flooring, store fixtures, moldings, doors and other architectural applications. Kronospan is completing a state-of-the-art, resin manufacturing facility. This plant will produce the resin used in the manufacture of Kronospan’s medium and high density fiberboard products. Taking to heart the Chamber’s message of Buy Local, many of the contractors partnering with Kronospan in this project are locally owned and operated.
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1 Kronospan Way, Eastaboga - www.kronospanusa.com
SHELCO FOUNDRIES Shelco Foundries, a division of Gnutti Carlo USA located in Jacksonville, is a modern, high volume ductile and grey iron foundry that produces iron engine components for OEM manufacturers. The detailed castings created at their facility measure to both the ASTM and SAE standards. When Shelco was purchased by Gnutti in 2013, they grew from 55 employees to their current 135 employees. They have begun upgrades to their facilities, and their current machine shop expansion will include a new 60,000-square-foot building.
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1310 West Francis Street, Jacksonville - www.gnutticarlo.com
CHAMBER CONNECTIONS
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