CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (May 10, 2019) – AMERICAN Flow Control, the valve
and hydrant division of AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company, announced today the
formation of AMERICAN Innovation LLC and construction of a new research and
development (R&D) facility in Crawfordsville.
“We’re thrilled AMERICAN Innovation has selected
Crawfordsville as the destination for its new R&D center,” said Elaine
Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “With a
highly-skilled pipeline of talent coming from our renowned universities with high-ranking
engineering programs, Indiana is the ideal location for companies like AMERICAN
Innovation to locate and develop new solutions that will propel business
forward for years to come.”
AMERICAN Innovation will invest $9 million to construct, equip and furnish its
new R&D facility, featuring state-of-the-art equipment and technologies for
enhancing existing valve and hydrant products, as well as developing new
infrastructure-related products. The 30,000-square-foot facility – to be named
the AMERICAN Flow Control Center for Innovative Excellence – will be
constructed on 17 acres in the Crawfordsville Commerce Park. Construction is
scheduled to begin this summer and to be completed in spring 2020.
The company plans to hire up to eight research and development personnel,
including engineers and technicians, by the end of 2020. New
positions are expected to pay an average hourly rate higher than the county and
state’s average wage. Jobs will be posted on the company’s website in the coming months.
“This center will expand our research and design functions, allowing us to fast
track innovations to get products to market more quickly,” said John Hagelskamp,
AMERICAN Flow Control division sales manager. “We chose Crawfordsville in part
because of its easily accessible location and proximity to several major
engineering schools.”
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company was
founded in 1905 and employs approximately 2,600 people across AMERICAN’s
portfolio companies. In addition to manufacturing the American-Darling and
Waterous brands of fire hydrants for municipal and industrial fire protection
applications, AMERICAN has introduced several new products to the market
including a wide range of large diameter resilient wedge gate valves, an
earthquake-resistant valve and hydrant system, and GIS technology for mapping
and asset management.
“Engineering and STEM-related jobs are exactly the kinds of talent
opportunities we want to attract to our community,” said Crawfordsville Mayor
Todd Barton. “We’ve worked hard to build a stronger business environment and
higher quality of life that is attractive to this type of corporate investment.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered AMERICAN Innovation LLC up
to $130,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation
plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are
hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of
Crawfordsville approved additional incentives.
About AMERICAN Cast Iron
Pipe Company
Headquartered in Birmingham,
Alabama, AMERICAN was founded in 1905 and employs approximately 2,600 people
across the AMERICAN family of companies. In addition to manufacturing the
iconic American-Darling and Waterous brands of fire hydrants for municipal and
industrial fire protection applications, AMERICAN has introduced several new
products to the market including a wide range of large diameter resilient wedge
gate valves, an earthquake-resistant valve and hydrant system, and GIS
technology for mapping and asset management. Other divisions of the company
manufacture ductile iron and spiral-welded steel pipe for the waterworks
industry and high-frequency-welded steel pipe for the oil and natural gas
industries. For more information, visit www.american-usa.com.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic
Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic
development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state.
Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC
manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce
training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public
infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For
more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
