Intelligrated points to bright future

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer

There were “thank-yous” and pats on the back all around on Monday afternoon at Intelligrated Products LLC’s London plant as company officials recognized local support for its recent decision to remain in Ohio.

In late October, Intelligrated accepted a $24 million incentive package from the state to help integrate operations of recently acquired FKI Logistex and expand its Ohio facilities in West Chester, Mason and London. Kentucky, where FKI Logistex is based, had actively sought to lure Intelligrated away from Ohio with an incentive package of its own.

However, three months of negotiations with the Ohio Department of Development, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the City of London and various elected officials resulted in the decision by company officials to stay in the Buckeye State.

That decision saved 500 Ohio jobs, including about 140 factory and 30 office jobs in London. As part of the incentive package, Intelligrated agreed to create 300 additional jobs statewide over the next three years.

The first wave of those new jobs will likely go to Intelligrated’s Mason plant, which is also the company’s headquarters. London will also see more jobs down the road as production is transferred from Danville, Kentucky, said Intelligrated CEO Chris Cole.

Cole said on Monday that the London plant, located at 475 E. High St., is key to the company’s success in Ohio.

He credited Gov. Ted Strickland, London Chamber of Commerce Director Sean Hughes, state Rep. Bob Hackett, state Sen. Chris Widener, the Madison County commissioners and Dusty Parker, president of Madison County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), for working to retain jobs locally.

Mark Tefend, Intelligrated’s vice-president and general counsel, and Parker singled out Hughes for making a convincing argument to stay in London, overriding Kentucky’s strong appeal to move south.

“Ohio has a lot to be proud of,” Tefend said.

He listed the state’s assets: a strong workforce, good central location and outstanding schools and universities.

Madison County Commissioner Dave Dhume, himself a former factory worker, tipped his hat to Intelligrated’s local employees, most of whom were in the room.

“You are a success story,” Dhume told the group. “You are dedicated to building a quality product.”

London City Council President-elect Bill Beathard also thanked the assembled first and second-shift employees.

“It’s your dedication to …cost efficiency that makes today possible,” Beathard said.

Intelligrated is the evolution of Versa Corporation and Conveyors Limited, having taken control of Versa’s product line and workforce several years ago.

It is a leading supplier of high-speed sorters, conveyor belts, roller conveyors and material handling software for warehousing and shipping packages. Among its clients are Anheuser-Busch, Big Lots, Cardinal Health, Kraft Foods, McGraw Hill, Procter & Gamble, Limited Brands and the U.S. Postal Service.

A close proximity to many of those companies played into Intelligrated’s decision to remain in Ohio, Cole noted.

“The greater Columbus area is growing into a logistical hub,” he said.

He cited Intelligrated’s high standards in support and service that aid in both closing a deal and in maintaining long-term customer relationships.

“We sell productivity to our customers,” he added.

All three Intelligrated facilities will soon be integrated into an advanced Oracle ERP computer system.

“The sooner we can integrate Oracle, the sooner we can create [more] jobs in London,” said Tefend, allowing that the economy plays a heavy role in just how fast that prospect can be realized.

However, Cole said that November has been a good month for the company.

Cole and Tefend couldn’t emphasize enough the role that Ironworkers Shopmens Union Local 522 played in making the $24 million incentive package possible.

“We have a great relationshp with the local and our workforce,” said Tefend. “The representatives from London discussed things with West Chester to level the playing field. It was such a success.”