In a globally competitive era when valuable, high tech jobs can go anywhere, a good pitch can mean the difference between losing and landing a company. Thankfully, when the
Ohio Department of Development recently offered Northeast Ohio manufacturing giant
Parker Hannifin $2.3 million to build a new polymer research center in Ravenna, the pitch was well-received.
Ohio beat out sites in Texas, North Carolina and Wisconsin to win a $17 million-plus research center that will be built in the City of Ravenna by Parker.
The Ohio Department of Development offered a grant totaling $2,320,087 from the Ohio Third Frontier program. For its part, Parker made a commitment to create and locate its new Parflex Advanced Polymer Research and Manufacturing Innovation Center in the City of Ravenna. Parker also plans to invest more than $15 million of its own money in the facility. The
University of Akron and the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation are collaborators in the new center.
“The Parflex Center will create 34 jobs and retain 281 positions in this high-tech field and develop the type of innovative technology that continues to make Ohio a leader in advanced materials,” said Christiane Schmenk, Executive Director of the Ohio Department of Development, in a news release.
She added that “by encouraging collaboration with the University of Akron and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio Third Frontier is fostering an environment that enables high-tech companies like Parker Hannifin to locate and grow in Ohio.”
For its part, Parker Hannifin welcomes the arrangement. “We’re thrilled to have the support of Ohio Third Frontier Commission,” says Chris Farage, Vice President of Communications and External Affairs. “This is a great example of public-private partnership working to create jobs for Ohio citizens.”
Parflex polymer tubing is used in the medical sector and other industries. Parker Hannifin, which is the global leader in motion and control technology, says the new facility will consolidate its polymer and research development activities from nine facilities in Mexico, the U.S. and Europe into a single location. The center is expected be one of the leading advanced polymer labs in the world.
Source: Chris Farage, Katie Sabatino
Writer: Lynne Meyer