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First Posted: 4/12/2012 HANOVER TOWNSHIP &amp;ndash; A company that makes ceramics for the aerospace industry says it will add 80 jobs over the next three years by consolidating an out-of-state facility with its plant in the Hanover Industrial Park.
According to the office of Gov. Tom Corbett, Certech Inc. will close an out-of-state facility and consolidate its molded ceramic component operations into its 63,000-square-foot facility in Hanover Township, adding 80 jobs to its existing workforce of 185 employees. Certech will also purchase new equipment and train new employees at the facility.
Mike Kuzdzal, Vice President and General Manager for Certech North America, wouldn&amp;rsquo;t say where the other facility is located, only that it is outside Pennsylvania, or how many layoffs would take place there, because the plant consolidation has not been announced at that plant.
&amp;ldquo;The Pennsylvania facility is newer with a good workforce with goodperformance,&amp;rdquo; Kuzdzal said. &amp;ldquo;And it&amp;rsquo;s nice to reward that effort and accomplishment with additional work and job security.&amp;rdquo;
The company was also offered and accepted a total of $346,000 in funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development, including $160,000 in job creation tax credits, $36,000 in job training assistance and a $150,000 Pennsylvania First grant.
Larry Newman, Vice President of Economic and Community Development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, called the selection of the Hanover Township plant for expansion a victory for the area and Pennsylvania that recognizes the strong manufacturing base in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
&amp;ldquo;It&amp;rsquo;s always critical for our community to be able to demonstrate that we have the ability to compete for jobs,&amp;rdquo; Newman said. &amp;ldquo;And we&amp;rsquo;re happy that in this case we demonstrated that consolidating the operations here in greater Wilkes-Barre was the better option.
&amp;ldquo;Obviously this community has a larger percentage of its employment inmanufacturing than in other areas of the country,&amp;rdquo; he continued. &amp;ldquo;We believe that while most manufacturers are now facing the realities of competition in a global market we believe that provide both challenges and opportunities, and we are finding that many of the area&amp;rsquo;s manufacturers are able to compete on that global stage but also able to win.&amp;rdquo;
Kuzdzal said Certech began hiring some employees earlier this year, and will phase in hires in groups of about ten as equipment is purchased and moved on site, and as new hires complete training and certification programs. Experience and special skills are not required for most positions, Kuzdzal said.
&amp;ldquo;Certech is prefers a good work ethic over experience, we will train for each position,&amp;rdquo; Kuzdzal said.
Most new jobs will be entry-level positions in the manufacturing of ceramics for the aerospace industry, and will not require manufacturing experience or heavy lifting, though some engineering and skilled positions will also be available. All positions will be full-time, though receipt of benefits will be contingent on completion of a training period, Kuzdzal said.

Certech to add 80 manufacturing jobs in Hanover Township