HH manufacturer still coming

Following delay in moving Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding gets a new grant to help relocate headquarters, add jobs

Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding was halfway to Mentor when market conditions delayed relocating its headquarters to the city.

That plan is now rolling again and will get a boost from another Mentor Incentive Grant.

Alloy Bellows’ headquarters and light manufacturing operations are currently in Highland Heights.

The company intends to add 22,500 square feet to the Star Precision Technologies, LLC building at 6989 Lindsay Drive, southwest of Tyler Boulevard and Route 615 in Mentor.

The cost of the expansion will be about $4 million. It is estimated that $1.7 million in new payroll will be created and 54 new jobs will be added to the city.

In 2015, Alloy Bellows acquired Star Precision, one of its service providers. Several options had been explored, including building a new headquarters in another area of Mentor.

Following the Star Precision acquisition, the business invested significantly in building upgrades and new equipment, expanded sales and moved its CNC operations to Mentor.

“Shortly thereafter, one of our key markets retrenched and we pulled back on the full integration until now,” President and CEO Michael Canty said.

The project completion is projected for Nov. 30.

The grant is for 10 years and will come from nontax revenues. The amount is formulated based on income tax payment the business makes to the city and could equal $17,750 or more if all thresholds in the agreement are met.

This will be the third Mentor Incentive Grant awarded Alloy Bellows. The legislation adopted by City Council May 19 rescinded the previous grants and replaced it with the new one.

“After working for several

years on putting the pieces together, we are thrilled that Alloy Bellows will bring their headquarters to Mentor while investing in new construction on the existing Star Precision building,” Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said. “Alloy Bellows’ expansion exhibits once again that even during challenging economic conditions, Mentor’s manufacturing community continues to thrive.”

Council President Bruce Landeg expressed his support prior to voting.

“In this era, hearing of new jobs — 54 — that couldn’t be better news,” he said.

Alloy Bellows was founded in 1935, when it sought to improve upon a metal bellows assembly being used in the aircraft industry, according to its website. Since then, the company’s capabilities have evolved to include custom engineering and manufacturing of hydro-formed, mechanically formed and laser edge-welded metal bellows and bellows assemblies for a wide range of industries.

The company also provides precision metal joining of valves, fittings and other components made of carbon steels, stainless steels and similar materials.

SUBMITTED Alloy Bellows of Highland Heights is moving its headquarters to Mentor.