TRW commits $13 million to new facility at Griffiss

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Apr 13, 2001 by Allen, Paul

ROME TRW Aeronautical Systems in Utica is committing $13 million toward relocating its operations to a new manufacturing facility in the Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome. The multimilliondollar project includes building a new manufacturing plant, as well as purchasing new equipment and machinery. The 110,000-square-foot facility will be located on an 11-acre site at Brooks Road and Otis Street in Griffiss Park.

Construction of the building should be completed by Oct. 31, says Elaine Holt, manager of human resources at TRW. She adds that the entire relocation project should be completed by the end of the year.

As part of the deal to keep TRW and its 210 jobs - in Oneida County, Mohawk Valley EDGE will take title to TRW's property on Seward Avenue in Utica. EDGE plans to demolish the existing structure and assist in marketing the 24-acre site for redevelopment. The site, which is located in an Empire Zone, is "prime industrial property," according to Steven DiMeo, EDGE executive vice president.

The TRW relocation project was initiated, in part, because the Seward Avenue location was inadequate to meet the company's production needs, says Holt, and adds that "the facility is 50 years old and in dire need of repair. The cost of repairing and refurbishing the facility is prohibitive. We're at the point now where we need to impress our customers. We have very high-tech products to sell and we need a facility that reflects that image."

TRW acquired Lucas Varity in 1999. A division of LucasVarity, Lucas Aerospace Power Transmission Corporation, was located at the Seward Avenue site. Over the last three years, TRW Aeronautical Systems in Utica has seen a 40-percent sales growth and consistently improved profit margins.

"We're very excited about the commitment of TRW to stay in the area. Their respect for our work force has gotten us to this point," Holt says, and adds that she is happy that the company's annual payroll of $10.5 million will stay in the Mohawk Valley.

To compensate the City of Utica and the Utica City School District for property taxes lost because of TRW's move, Mohawk Valley EDGE and Oneida County are implementing an Inter-municipal Relocation Plan while the Seward Avenue property is being redeveloped and marketed.

TRW's decision to remain in the Mohawk Valley followed an exhaustive review of its options for its Seward Avenue facility, which included moving the local work to other TRW plants and closing the Utica facility. TRW examined several potential building locations in Oneida and Herkimer counties, as well as sites in the Syracuse area, before settling on Griffiss Business and Technology Park.

TRW's local plant designs, develops, manufactures, and provides customer support for power-transmission systems and components. The products, which include commercial couplings and hydraulic power units, are used in military, aerospace, industrial. and commercial applications.