THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507280456
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
PCB Piezotronics Inc., which makes sensors for the automotive and aerospace industries, said Thursday it wants to open a manufacturing and office center in Virginia Beach.
So far, no agreement has been signed. But ``it's pretty close,'' said Richard Lally, vice president of technology for the Buffalo, N.Y.-based company. The two sides still must resolve some zoning issues, he said.
To lure PCB, Virginia Beach used $77,000 in economic-development funds for infrastructure improvements. For the city, PCB's move represents a $2.3 million investment. PCB Piezotronics would bring in estimated annual tax revenue of $33,500.
PCB initially would employ 50 people, mostly engineers and technicians, but plans to increase its work force to total 90.
``These are the kind of jobs cities crave,'' Lally said. In addition, he said, the company is ``high-tech, clean and green. We don't have large water requirements.''
Headed by Chief Executive James F. Lally, the 28-year-old company makes nickel-sized sensors. These electro-mechanical devices are used in Navy submarines, rockets and automobiles. They measure vibrations, force and pressure.
In Virginia Beach, the company wants to begin mass-producing its sensors at lower costs for commercial use. It also wants to automate many of the manufacturing tasks.
``We have a lot of trained assembly people who put together these things with a microscope, a keen eye and steady hands,'' said Jeff Rybak, PCB's sales manager. ``We're taking some of the more labor-intensive parts and doing them with automated machinery. This will free up our technical personnel to do other things.''
Under the proposal, the city would sell PCB a 3 1/2-acre site in Corporate Landing Business Park for about $192,500. There, PCB wants to build a 12,000-square-foot building and later more than double its size. The first phase of construction could be completed as early as February.
Corporate Landing, the 400-acre business park owned by the city's development authority, is finally landing tenants after years of vacancy. In the past, the park off General Booth Boulevard has been criticized by City Council members, who said the authority paid too much for the property in the late '80s and hasn't gotten enough in return.
The first company to locate in the park was Al-Anon Family Services Inc.; the second, Membership Marketing Services Inc. PCB would be the third occupant.
``We've got a few other projects, but it's too early to name them,'' said Mark R. Wawner, project development manager for the city's economic development department. ILLUSTRATION: Map
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