ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603040017
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
Cascade Manufacturing, a Christiansburg packaging company, has been acquired by a California pet products manufacturer that intends to expand in Southwest Virginia.
Cascade, located on Park Street, will package and produce products for Energy Savers Unlimited of Harbor City, Calif. Energy Savers manufactures reptile, pond and aquarium products.
Initially, the acquisition will create six to 10 jobs at the Christiansburg plant during the next few months, said Bill Willis, Cascade's founder and president. The company, which has been in existence for less than a year, currently employs 14 people.
"It's a real plus for this area. ... It's just a lot easier to manufacture out here than in Los Angeles," said Willis, who will remain president in addition to becoming vice president of operations for Energy Savers Unlimited.
The acquisition was finalized Feb. 20. Cascade, which has since changed its name to Energy Savers Virginia, had been doing contract work for the California company before the acquisition.
Eventually, Willis said, Energy Savers plans to build a new, 60,000- to 80,000-square-foot facility in the county's Falling Branch Industrial Park to house new product lines and further company expansion. Energy Savers, which employs about 48 people in California, has been in the pet products business for 15 years.
Omer Dersom, Energy Savers president, said the company's new Southwest Virginia location allows it to distribute its products throughout the Eastern United States within a day.
"That area is extremely attractive because of its location, its work force and being close to Virginia Tech," he said.
LENGTH: Short : 41 linesby CNB