BAE Systems opens expanded facilities
Company now spans over 890,000-square-feet in manufacturing space; includes 1,700 employees
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
WEST CHESTER TWP. — BAE Systems newly expanded 890,000-square-foot facility is now open.
The company, which held a grand opening Monday, May 12, is one of the largest manufacturing operations in Butler County. The expansion included adding another 700 employees, bringing BAE Systems' total to 1,650, company officials said.
U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner gets a tour of the new BAE Systems manufacturing facility from Marc Wolfrum, Director of Operations, BAE Systems Vehicle Armor, during a Grand Opening event, Monday, May 12.Its employee base is rivaled locally only by AK Steel, which has approximately 3,000 workers in Middletown and West Chester. Twp., according to Shanda Combs, the county's economic development manager.
Paul Mann, joint project manager for Mine Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicles for the U.S. Marines, said the company expanded to meet U.S. military demand for armored vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan.
War efforts have pushed the company to be able to expand despite an uncertain economy, said Marc Wolfrum, the company's director of operations.
The U.S. military is in the midst of its largest buying spree since World War II, spending more than $22 billion to acquire for 15,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles last year. MRAPs are the primary vehicle produced by BAE Systems in Butler County, Mann said.
BAE System's portfolio includes armor systems for Humvees and commercial vehicles, such as Suburbans, MRAP vehicle armor integration, transparent armor kits and ballistic glass, said company officials.
U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp., said the company has worked hard to protect troops as attack tactics continue to evolve.
He added that the company's expansion as it tries to meet those needs is good business for the state.
"BAE Systems is one of the largest employers in Butler County, and I'm very pleased to see them expand and bring more highly skilled jobs into our area," Boehner said.
Other attendees included Fairfield resident John Prazynski, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Taylor Prazynski, who died May 9, 2005, after suffering shrapnel wounds in an explosion during combat in Iraq.
Prazynski is a member of Impact a Hero, a nonprofit which provides services to wounded soldiers. He said he came with company President John Early to see what BAE Systems does and to show support for its efforts.
"BAE Systems has been a big support for our troops and our efforts (through Impact a Hero)," Prazynski said. "I wanted to come to see more of what they do to protect our troops."
Early said the meticulous work the company does is reflected in each job and product.
"It's a different perspective when you come in here and know the value (the work) brings with the quality of life for our soldiers overseas," he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jlander@coxohio.com.
