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Metal Distributor Moves into Naugatuck, Conn., Industrial Park

Posted on: Thursday, 28 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

Jul. 28--NAUGATUCK, Conn. -- A Pennsylvania metals distributor has set up shop in the borough's industrial park, making it at least the fifth firm since January to open or announce plans for operations there.

The Pennsylvania Steel Co. Inc., a distributor of steels, aluminum, alloys and other manufacturing metals, has moved into 35,000 square feet at 50 Rado Drive. The move comes as the company continues expanding into Northeast markets, said Barry R. Walsh, president and chief operating officer.

"We've really expanded steadily over the last nine years," Walsh said of the company, based in Bensalem, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia. "This area became a natural target for us once we successfully put our north Jersey operation in place."

Founded in 1972 as Pennsylvania Steel & Aluminum Co. Inc., the company expanded in 1997 into central Pennsylvania, then in 2003 to South Plainfield, N.J., Walsh said. From there, it services markets in northern New Jersey, New York City and Long Island.

"We're virtually sure there is a spot in this marketplace for a company like us," he said. "We have a very diverse product line that we bring to the table. That's also how we've grown during the last decade."

The company employs 10 people locally, and expects to add five more within the year, Walsh said. It employs about 90 people companywide. It started looking about a year ago to set up shop in Southern New England, he said, settling on the Rado Drive building in part because of the park's proximity to Route 8 and Interstate 84.

"You need to be there locally to send trucks out on a daily basis to your customer base," Walsh said. "Our trucks can be on the road and on Route 8 in 5 minutes."

Pennsylvania Steel occupies the southern third of a roughly 106,429-square-foot building that also houses an Office Max distributorship, formerly Boise Office Solutions. About 35,000 square feet remains vacant and available, said Damon Bowers, who along with Tim D'Addabbo listed the property for the Hartford office of Cushman & Wakefield.

Part of the building once housed some of Fabricated Metal Products Inc.'s operations, and had served as temporary quarters for Latex International, formerly Latex Foam Products, after its Ansonia quarters were destroyed by a May 2001 fire.

"Their desire was to be in a location that was accessible to its main warehouse and distribution facilities, and they also desired to be in this part of Connecticut," said Vance Taylor of Torrington's AMS Real Estate, which represented Pennsylvania Steel. "They, as so many others, recognize the rich manufacturing history of the Naugatuck Valley."

A similar distributorship already opened earlier this year in Waterbury. The Steel Store, which sells steel used to produce industrial tooling, dies and production molds, opened in June at 20 South Commons Road.

Pennsylvania Steel looked at sites throughout the Route 8 corridor, from Bridgeport to Waterbury, and the Route 84 corridor, between Southington and Waterbury, before settling on Naugatuck, Taylor said.

"We're very pleased to have them coming to town," said David Prendergast, the Naugatuck Economic Development Corp.'s chief executive officer. "We're obviously looking forward to the job creation and having them become part of the community."

Pennsylvania Steel is at least the fifth firm this year to either move into Naugatuck's industrial park or announce plans to do so.

"We're still working on a couple of other things, but we've had a significant amount of activity, and it's all been good," Prendergast said.

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Source: Waterbury Republican-American

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