Calphalon starts new shipping center

More jobs expected in Wood County

10/6/2012
BY TYREL LINKHORN
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER

Calphalon Corp. has begun construction on a distribution center in Wood County that it says will make its operation more efficient and add jobs.

Calphalon makes high-end consumer and professional cookware at a plant in Perrysburg Township. The new center, at State Rts. 25 and 582, will be about 12 miles from the manufacturing plant. The company is consolidating two existing distribution centers in Toledo.

In an e-mail, company spokesman Connie Bryant said the 363,000-square-foot center will "improve efficiency and service as we ship products to customers around the country."

Calphalon expects the project to be completed in the second quarter of next year.

Ms. Bryant said employees at the Toledo distribution centers will be shifted to the Wood County site and the company expects to add 33 jobs over a five-year period.

Wade Gottschalk, executive director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission said the project is good for Wood County, and that work is moving quickly.

Mr. Gottschalk said Calphalon is investing approximately $16 million in the center — about $11 million for the building and land, and $5 million for equipment. He said about 90 jobs will be transferred from Calphalon's Toledo operation, bringing the eventual total employment to about 120.

Calphalon is a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

In June, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 45 percent, five-year tax credit to Calphalon for the project. State documents show the project is expected to create $823,000 in additional payroll and retain $8.5 million in existing payroll.

The state said Ohio was in competition with Georgia for the project.