THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512090290
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVE MAYFIELD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Universal Air Products Corp., a maker of pollution-control and air-compression systems, has relocated its manufacturing and distribution operations from Pittsburgh to Norfolk, the company's president said Friday. The move will create about 25 local jobs.
Kurt Kondas, a Pittsburgh native who heads the company, said the move to a building on Lance Road was made largely to be close to Hampton Roads' port facilities. Key components of Universal's products are imported and exports of the company's finished products are increasing.
Kondas co-founded Universal three years ago with Peter Briggs, the company's technical director. Both men had worked previously for Norfolk-based Bauer Compressors Inc. Kondas earned an MBA from The College of William & Mary, Briggs a bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Old Dominion University.
Kondas said Universal purchased the assets of another Pittsburgh company founded by his father. Shortly thereafter, he began making plans to relocate the business to Hampton Roads, keeping his main residence here.
He said several factors worked in Hampton Roads' favor: state tax and regulatory policies that are favorable to business, the fact that Bauer Compressors is one of Universal's key suppliers, and the port's proximity.
About 15 percent of Universal's $2 million in annual sales are from exports. ``That's where we see our growth in the future,'' Kondas said. ``We wanted to make sure we were poised for that activity.'' by CNB