Sale of APV Baker final
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on September 5, 2004 9:00 AM
State and Wayne County officials announced Friday that the purchase of APV Baker by Turkington Industries has been competed, thanks to $600,000 in state and local grants.
Turkington, a privately held company with headquarters in Lancashire, England, received a $300,000 grant from the One N.C. Fund and $150,000 grants from both Wayne County and the city of Goldsboro as incentives to buy the Goldsboro plant.
The $10 million deal is expected to preserve around 120 jobs. Other potential investors had considered closing the plant and relocating the equipment.
"Turkington Industries' decision to invest in North Carolina and locate its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Wayne County is proof that our smart investments in our workforce, education and infrastructure are paying off," said Gov. Mike Easley in a news release. "Working with our local partners, we are able to sustain 120 jobs for hard-working North Carolina families."
Like APV Baker, Turkington Industries makes equipment for automated bakeries. It also supplies brewing equipment and other plant machinery.
John Turkington, chairman of Turkington Industries, said, "We have had a close relationship with the APV Baker-Goldsboro operation for several years and have jointly secured businesses with many U.S. bakery companies.
"The acquisition of this highly respected manufacturer of bakery equipment gives us an ideal strategic platform to manufacture and increase our product range in the United States, which will create more jobs for the people of Goldsboro."
Invenys, the parent company of APV Baker, had been looking for a buyer for the Goldsboro plant since last fall. The Wayne County Economic Development Commission worked for several months with the N.C. Department of Commerce and local legislators to attract a buyer that would protect jobs.
"This really is a new industry for Wayne County," said EDC Chairman Jimmie Ford. "APV Baker was all but gone. Now this new company has stepped in to maintain operations and save those good jobs. The EDC is very pleased to have played a role in this success story."
EDC President Joanna Thompson added, "N.C. Sen. John Kerr really came to bat for us. He stepped in and made sure that nothing at the state level was falling through the cracks."
"APV Baker has been a great corporate citizen and a loyal member of this community for more than 20 years," Kerr said. "We welcome Turkington and their good-paying jobs to Goldsboro. I look forward to continuing this strong relationship for many years to come."
The preserved jobs have an average salary of $46,000 a year and include metal workers, assemblers, engineers, and sales and marketing positions. For more information about Turkington, including job vacancies, go to www.turkingtons.com.
APV Products, a separate company from APV Baker, will also remain open at the plant on Ash Street Extension. APV Products, which will own the building and lease space to Turkington, manufactures heat exchangers and employs around 90 people.