A California company has relocated its headquarters and manufacturing operations to Dayton, Tennessee, with plans to invest $4 million and create 72 jobs over the next three years.
Master Manufacturing Group (MMG), a custom tube fabricator, will renovate and upgrade the former International Automotive Components (IAC) Group plant, which shut down at the end of February after more than 40 years operating as a Lear and UTA before becoming part of IAC in 2007.
MMG President Eric Griesemer said that although the current economic environment presents many unique and unforeseen challenges, "we have high expectations for great results as we expand employment with the local workforce over the coming years."
Founded in 1956, Master Manufacturing Group, formerly known as Woodmack Products, Inc., provides custom tube and pipe manufacturing services, specializing in the gas appliance industry. The company offers aluminum, stainless steel and steel tubing components in various shapes, sizes and forms.
Although MMG will not employ as many workers as the former automotive parts maker once had in the same facility, Rhea County officials welcomed the investment and additional jobs for the 127,000-square-foot plant. MMG acquired the building from the city of Dayton in July and has already hired about 30 workers and is working with the Career & Technical Education program at Rhea County schools for additional workers, according to John Bamber, executive director for the Rhea County Economic and Community Development agency.
Bamber said the investment "is particularly welcome during this pandemic" and gives Dayton another new manufacturing employer to help make up for the loss of IAC.
"This company is a perfect fit for Rhea County," Rhea County Executive George Thacker said Monday.
At its peak, IAC once employed more than 500 employees at the plant, which was originally built in 1964 to make small appliances for the Oster Corp.
The building will undergo extensive retrofitting in order to install holding tanks, electrical and hydraulic infrastructure, and create adequate ventilation for welding and painting operations.
MMG utilizes multiple manufacturing processes including CNC machining, mandrel bending and forming, according to the state Department of Economic and Community Development. Processes such as robotic, semi-robotic, manual welding as well as high pressure and high purity welding will be performed in-house at the Dayton facility, the state said.
Bob Rolfe, the state's commissioner for the Department of Economic and Community Development, said the project will have a sizable impact on Rhea County, one of Tennessee's at-risk counties, in the years ahead.
"What happens in rural Tennessee affects every Tennessean, and so we're excited by this investment from Master Manufacturing Group to bring more jobs and growth to Rhea County," Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said in a statement.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com.