Uponor North America, a company based out of Apple Valley that manufactures cross-linked polyethylene pipe and related products, is expanding its operations to Hutchinson with a planned $6.35 million investment in a manufacturing plant.
The 237,000-square-foot plant Uponor is purchasing along Highway 7 includes a manufacturing facility and office space, and is one of several buildings owned by TDK/Hutchinson Technology. The plant is scheduled to be operational by early 2019.
The pipes Uponor manufactures are used for residential and commercial applications such as plumbing, fire safety, radiant heating and cooling, hydronic piping and pre-insulated piping systems. With about 3,900 employees worldwide, and 600 in Minnesota, the company’s president, Bill Gray, said Hutchinson was a great fit for Uponor’s expansion.
“Uponor is seeing unprecedented product demand as a result of continued growth in commercial and residential construction,” he said in a press release. “This investment will allow Uponor to increase production capacity as we build a future on innovation, education and advocacy to better serve our customers while also growing the state’s manufacturing workforce.”
Gray also said Hutchinson’s location just 70 miles from the Uponor’s headquarters was a draw, as was the city’s reputation as a manufacturing hub.
“Hutchinson has a great reputation as a large manufacturing community, with a large pool of skilled workers that can do operational work. Hutchinson ticks a lot of boxes when you’re looking for a good location,” he said. “Vibrant communities need vibrant businesses. Apple Valley has been great, and we hope to develop those sorts of same relationships with the civic and city leaders in Hutchinson. It’s a great opportunity for us to expand in Minnesota, and we hope to replicate what we do here in terms of corporate citizenship.”
Although the company could not comment yet how many jobs the new plant would bring, it said most would be manufacturing positions.
“We’ll come in with all types of jobs. On the factory floor as well as office positions, but primarily manufacturing positions,” Ingrid Mattsson, Uponor’s director of brand management, said. “We’ve got to get in there first, accommodate the building and make some renovations to make it suitable. We’ll be focusing on getting the building where it needs to be.”
The sale of the plant is expected to close in late August, and by early next year Mattsson said the company would have a better idea of how much of a workforce will be required. Until then, Mayor Gary Forcier said the city was just pleased to welcome the new job creator.
“We’re extremely excited to get a manufacturer in the town that will supply jobs to Hutchinson residents and surrounding communities,” he said.
