New plant, 150 jobs coming to Lafayette

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Welcome news for those job searching - a brand new facility will bring 150-plus jobs to the Greater Lafayette area.

Lafayette will be the first ever site in the United States for Nanshan America Advanced Aluminum Technology. Thanks in part to the president of Nanshan's parent company being a Purdue graduate, the company will have a presence in Tippecanoe County for years to come.

The announcement was made at Purdue University on Wednesday. The news of economic growth and 150-plus jobs for Greater Lafayette could be a sign of more things to come.

"I believe it is the first of what I hope will become a cavalcade of such investments," said Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

Daniels was on-hand for Wednesday's announcement. Daniels visited with Nanshan executives in China during his 2010 Asia Jobs Mission and now that visit seems to be paying off.

Nanshan made public it will be investing $100 million to build an aluminum extrusion plant inside of Lafayette's Park 350, with the possibility of more jobs in the future. Park 350 is a 330-acre industrial park located at U.S. 52 and Veteran's Memorial Parkway. Nanshan is purchasing 50 acres inside the park.

"We expect over 200 new jobs within the next two or three years. With the planning of phase two, we will create more opportunity later on," said Nanshan America Co. President Lijun Du.

Average wages will be $15.27 per hour, plus benefits.

"Jobs that pay well and include benefits - that is huge for our community and for our residents," said Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski.

Construction of Nanshan's facility inside of Park 350 is expected to begin immediately. The company wants to have equipment installed in January of 2012, with production beginning the second quarter of 2012.

Nanshan is listed as one of the China's Top 200 companies. The company will manufacture high-end aluminum products used in the mass transportation industry. It will also make material for the high-speed rail industry.

"We have studied the U.S. market for years to figure out a good strategy to serve our customer better," said Du.

Nanshan received $7.6 million in incentives to come to Lafayette. Its aluminum based products will not be in competition with another aluminum manufacturer's products, Alcoa, since both manufacturer's products are so different.

An access permit was approved on Wednesday for the proposed aluminum extrusion plant. The Technical Highway Committee of the Area Plan Commission approved the permit for Nanshan America Co. at its meeting Wednesday afternoon, before the jobs announcement went public.