A big announcement is bringing good news to the city of Dixon, Illinois. A brand new manufacturing businesses is moving to town and creating a 100 jobs.
SGS Refrigeration recently acquired a business that is currently making its products in Monterrey, Mexico. The industrial refrigeration company has been manufacturing its products in Mexico for 4-years. However, the new owners decided they want their products "Made in the USA" and are moving production to Dixon.
"It's really good news," says Dixon Mayor Jim Burke.
The city has been in the news a lot. Between the Rita Crundwell embezzlement case and the on-going teachers strike, the spotlight has been shining on Dixon.
"Crundwell will be in the paper one day, then the school strike is in the news the next day, they take turns," adds Mayor Burke, "We're ready for some positive news."
Positive news was announced on Tuesday afternoon. City and county leaders saying SGS Refrigeration is moving into an old factory building in the industrial part of town.
"There's a ready, trained and skilled work force here with talented professional people that can step in and pick up the pace rather quickly," says Peter Speller with SGS Refrigeration.
The skilled workforce comes from manufactures that have closed down in recent years. The same skilled workers are the ones that have helped SGS Refrigeration make the move to Dixon from Mexico.
"The workers at the current plant don't really know the product and we feel much more comfortable bringing it up here. Even though the wage will be higher, we'll have much better efficiency," says Edward Schinner with SGS Refrigeration.
The company makes industrial cooling equipment.
"These are large pieces of equipment that blow the cold air around cold storage facilities," adds Speller.
The products are large and difficult to move. Dixon is along the interstate and being the mid-west makes is easy to move the coolers.
"Sometimes the cooling equipment can be 25 feet long and 5 feet high," adds Schinner, "Freight is a big issue, so this is the best way you reach the markets and minimize the freight penalty."
When SGS Refrigeration moves to Dixon it will be closer to its key suppliers. One of those suppliers is AZZ Galvanizing in Dixon. The galvanizing company is across the street from the building where the refrigeration manufacturer will go. The supplier says that means they might expand and add more jobs.
"Since we lost a big manufacturing company a few years ago, we're hoping to get back to that same level, if not greater," says Clinton Shaw, Sales Manager for AZZ Galvanizing.
SGS Refrigeration has to be out of its current location in Mexico by the end of the summer. Company officials say they hope to be up and running in Dixon around the same time.
