Equipment Technologies, a manufacturer of agricultural spraying equipment, announced today that it will expand its operations in Mooresville, creating an estimated 60 new jobs by 2015.
Equipment Technologies, the largest independently-owned manufacturer of self-propelled sprayers in North America, plans to invest nearly $6.4 million to build a 50,000 square-foot training facility and warehouse near its existing 108,000 square-foot Morgan County manufacturing facility and headquarters.
“Equipment Technologies is a company that takes the best of Indiana’s heritage, combined with the latest innovation to make a product that has global demand. The company could have landed this expansion in any number of locations so their decision to continue the next phase of their success in Indiana is a testament to our workforce and low-tax environment,” said Mitch Roob, Secretary of Commerce and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Founded in 1997 in Indiana, Equipment Technologies distributes its name-plated Apache sprayers to farm equipment retailers throughout North America, Australia and Eastern Europe. At the 19th Annual National No-Tillage Conference held earlier this year, the company’s AS715 model sprayer was recognized as the 2010 Product of the Year by publishers of No-Till Farmer magazine.
“Being located in central Indiana places us in the heart of our market and provides good transportation access for distribution. Those benefits combined with strong state and local support for business made the expansion of our Indiana facility a reality. Indiana and town of Mooresville officials were attentive and instrumental in removing any barriers that threatened to limit our ability to grow at the site,” said Matt Hays, chief executive officer of Equipment Technologies.
The company, which currently employs more than 50 in Mooresville, expects to begin hiring in the near future for administration, sales, manufacturing and warehouse positions.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Equipment Technologies up to $550,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $25,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. The town of Mooresville provided infrastructure assistance and property tax abatement at the request of the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation.
“We are thrilled with the success that Equipment Technologies has achieved in an extremely competitive industry. They are wonderful corporate citizens and we are proud to have them in our community. Additionally, we expect that Equipment Technologies’ best days are still ahead. We look forward to having them in our town for many years to come,” said George Watkins, Mooresville Town Council president.
– Edited press release by Blair West, Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
