LEETONIA – State and local officials, including Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, celebrated the $38 million expansion of the Pennex Aluminum Company production facility and welcomed the creation of more than 65 additional jobs during an unveiling of the new digs Friday.

“I see it continuing to grow. I know Pennex is very happy to be here, and we’re very happy to have them here,” Mayor Artie Altomare said.

Altomare led a Leetonia contingent which included council members, other village officials, the high school marching band and schools superintendent Rob Mehno, who was one of several speakers during the event at the World Trade Park off state Route 344 and Commerce Avenue, where Pennex Aluminum is located.

More jobs means an increased tax base for the village and more opportunity for work close to home for residents. Both Altomare and Mehno praised the great partnership with Pennex Aluminum and its president, Dave Riebe.

“I am impressed by the family atmosphere and genuine caring for the school and community Pennex has demonstrated. This goes beyond their willingness to invest in Leetonia and includes building meaningful relationships in the community,” Mehno said during his presentation.

The project was supported by a 45 percent, six-year tax credit from the state of Ohio and a 15-year tax abatement from the village and a partnership with Columbiana County. The construction project, with C. Tucker Cope of Columbiana as general contractor, tripled the size of the aluminum extrusion and fabrication facility. The addition of 175,000 square feet makes the facility 275,000 square feet total to accommodate two aluminum press lines, including one of the most innovative 12-inch press lines in the world, to create specialized and customized aluminum products for customers.

According to a press release, the “Pennex fabrication lines create highly specialized parts for major automotive manufacturers and other transportation related companies. In addition, Pennex provides custom fabricated parts for building and construction businesses.”

Riebe praised the community for its support, including the state and county, and explained how the company supports programs in the school and village. He said they work with the school system to ensure students are receiving the training and skills necessary to become future employees.

The company runs three shifts, five to six days per week, and is still hiring, looking for production line workers and equipment operators. He said the plant now employs 100-plus workers, but will be increasing to 140-plus. He said they have “a hard-working, good group of folks and would love to have more.”

Potential employees can apply at www.pennexaluminum.com.

Taylor gave the company high praise for its willingness to add jobs and partner with the community.

“Manufacturing is alive and well in the state of Ohio,” she said. “We appreciate the commitment and investment you’re making in Ohio in this community in Leetonia.”

The Columbiana County Port Authority oversees and promotes World Trade Park and CEO Tracy Drake said the Pennex expansion is great for the county.

“I think there’s a potential to see more business from the Pennex family, maybe get them to put another plant in,” he said, noting there’s 68 acres left for development in the industrial park, with utilities already in place.

Pennex Aluminum is part of the Metal Exchange Corporation family of companies and has locations in Greenville, Pa., Wellsville, Pa. and York, Pa. MEC Chairman and CEO Mike Lefton and MEC President of Manufacturing Rick Merluzzi both spoke before the ribbon-cutting, expressing their pride in the Pennex team and the Pennex employees. Lefton said the expansion at the Leetonia plant is the largest project MEC has ever taken on. The plant was acquired in 2010 from General Extrusions.

“This is an exciting day for us,” Merluzzi said.

He said the company had four goals: to be competitive, to employ a quality group of people, to maintain excellence and to make a positive impact on the community. With the Leetonia plant, they’re meeting and exceeding all four goals.

A video touted the company and what it does and during a tour of the facilities, Leetonia Extrusion Supervisor Rick Orr described the extrusion process a lot like a giant play dough machine. A billett of aluminum (made mostly from scrap aluminum and some prime aluminum) is placed into 9-inch or 12-inch press and heated and extruded into the shape desired. The material is then quenched with air or water and then it’s stretched to make it straight, cut to the desired length and put in ovens to age or harden.

In the fabrication area, extruded material is cut, drilled or machined into products requested by customers for a special purpose.

To learn more about Pennex, visit www.pennexaluminum.com.