VALLEY PLATING TO SET UP SHOP AT VIRCO IN CONWAY
March 24, 2005
Conway, AR — Valley Plating will soon be housed within Virco Plant 1 on Highway 65 South in Conway. The new company will perform the plating on the furniture produced by Virco's Conway operation.
Valley Plating is investing $800,000 to retrofit a 22,000 square-foot portion of the Virco facility. The new 40-employee company anticipates an early summer start-up.
Valley Plating (www.valleyplating.com) has done plating work for Virco's Torrance, Calif., plant since the mid-1980s. Plating for the Conway plant is currently being outsourced to a firm in St. Louis. By housing the operation within the plant, Virco will save time and money on transportation, according to Joe Trentalange, Valley Plating general manager, in Los Angeles.
"Our company has been the exclusive plater for Virco's Torrance plant for almost 10 years. We're happy to co-locate our operation in their Conway facility and look forward to continuing our good working relationship with this company," said Trentalange.
The Conway location will be Valley Plating Works' fourth plant; the other three are in the Los Angeles area.
"Having this supplier in Conway means that Virco will be more competitive and our state will have new, good-paying jobs," said Gov. Mike Huckabee. "We welcome Valley Plating."
Virco has been in Conway for more than 50 years and is one of the city's major employers. It is the largest manufacturer of educational furniture in the United States.
Anyone with plating experience or skills should contact Trentalange at joe@valleyplating.com or by fax: 323-223-1233.
Conway Mayor Tab Townsell said, "The expansion of Valley Plating in Conway and into the very facility of Virco Industries continues to show the opportunities associated with the development and enhancement of our existing industries - they too can recruit companies and jobs to our area. Valley Plating brings great jobs to Conway while creating a more competitive product in association with their partner. These innovative partnerships will make American manufacturing more competitive in general and, in particular, Valley Plating a success in Conway."
"We are pleased that Virco and Valley Plating are bringing their successful partnership to Conway, Arkansas," said Bill Hegeman, president of the Conway Development Corporation. "Virco is bringing millions of dollars in business back to Conway, and Valley Plating is creating good manufacturing jobs for the area. It is a winning proposition for Virco, Valley Plating and the city of Conway. The Conway Development Corporation is proud to have assisted Valley Plating in their move to Conway."
Larry Walther, director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, said, "It's always good to see how established firms can bring new companies to our state. We're very glad that Valley Plating has come to Conway and will join Arkansas' roster of fine businesses."
CONTACT:
Mitch Chandler, 501-682-5154
mchandler@1-800-ARKANSAS.com
Brad Lacy, Director of Economic Development
Conway Development Corporation
501-329-7788
