MetoKote Investing in German Manufacturing Facility

BERLIN, November 5 /PRNewswire/ — MetoKote Corporation, a provider of
protective coating applications based in the United States, has chosen
Germany as the site of its new manufacturing plant. With a EUR 6.5 million
investment, the company broke ground last week on its new facility in the
Southern German city of Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg.

The new investment will also serve as a pilot project focused on reaching
further customers in continental Europe. It is the company’s first office in
Germany. The 11,500 square meter site will include a production facility,
warehouse, and administration building. The company expects to begin
production as soon as July 2010 and plans to eventually employ 50 workers at
the plant. The rapid turnaround time was made possible by Germany’s efficient
investment framework.

DeWayne Pinkstaff, President and CEO of MetoKote, came from company
headquarters in Lima, Ohio to attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Mannheim
on Wednesday. Pinkstaff was enthusiastic about the company’s new presence in
Germany: “We are very much looking forward to producing in Germany. The site
is optimal for us, as it is located in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area,
one of the most dynamic areas in Europe. The region provides us with an
excellent opportunity to reach new customers. Germany Trade & Invest and the
regional development agency Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH were
instrumental in helping our company find a suitable location and assisting us
through the entire investment process.”

One major factor in MetoKote’s decision to invest in Mannheim was its
close proximity to customer and agricultural equipment manufacturer John
Deere. The agricultural giant has had its tractor factory and European
Headquarters in Mannheim since 1956. John Deere Werke Mannheim factory
manager Dr. Volker Knickel also attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

MetoKote supplies coating applications, such as electrocoating (e-coat),
powder coating, and liquid paint, for a variety of industries, including
agriculture, appliance, automotive, construction equipment, industrial
equipment, recreational, and truck and bus.

The company was assisted throughout the investment process by Germany
Trade & Invest along with Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH
(http://www.standorte-rhein-neckar.de).

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises
foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German
market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that
seek to enter foreign markets.

    Eva Henkel
    Eva.henkel@gtai.com
    Phone: +49-30-200099-173
    Fax: +49-30-200099-111

SOURCE Germany Trade and Invest