HARRISBURG, PA — This week, Governor Josh Shapiro announced a significant $2 million investment to support the expansion of SECO/VACUUM, a vacuum furnace manufacturer, in Crawford County. The $4.1 million project will relocate SECO/VACUUM’s U.S. manufacturing headquarters from Poland to Meadville, Pennsylvania. This move is expected to create at least 23 new full-time jobs and retain an additional 38 positions.
“I am proud that SECO/VAC has chosen to move their U.S. manufacturing headquarters to Pennsylvania,” stated Governor Shapiro. “With our skilled workforce, strategic location, and high quality of life, Pennsylvania is the best place to grow your business. We’re committed to attracting more companies like SECO/VAC that want to create jobs and contribute to our economy.”
Currently, SECO/VACUUM leases 10,000 square feet at the Crawford Business Park in Meadville for its sales and service operations. The relocation will involve repurposing an additional 72,000 square feet into manufacturing and assembly space, leased for at least ten years from the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County (EPACC).
The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has provided a $2 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant and a $69,000 workforce development grant to train employees. DCED Secretary Rick Siger expressed pride in working with SECO/VACUUM, highlighting the company’s role in bringing high-quality manufacturing jobs to Northwest Pennsylvania.
Founded in 2017, SECO/VACUUM, supported by parent company SECO/WARWICK, S.A., is a prominent player in the North American heat-treating market. Vacuum furnaces, which remove air from the heating chamber, are essential in various industrial applications, from heat treatment to sanitation.
“Our area has always been known for its excellence in manufacturing,” said Senator Michele Brooks. “The SECO/VACUUM Technologies expansion will not only add jobs for local families but also continue this legacy.”
Piotr Zawistowski, President and Managing Director of SECO/VACUUM Technologies, expressed excitement about the expansion and its implications for Meadville and the wider Commonwealth. “Thanks to support from Governor Shapiro, the people of the Commonwealth, and the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, SECO/VACUUM will continue providing innovative heat-treating solutions built right here in Pennsylvania.”
The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals working directly with the Governor. Support and technical assistance from DCED’s Office of International Business Development facilitated the headquarters’ relocation from Poland to Meadville.
Jim Becker, Executive Director of the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County, emphasized the project’s significance. “This investment will transform an existing facility into a state-of-the-art manufacturing site, creating jobs that drive local and regional economies. We’re thrilled to support SECO/VACUUM’s expansion in Crawford County.”
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