Engine Parts Manufacturer Moving to Roane Regional Business and Technology Park
Tuesday March 20, 2007
Kingston, TN - Diesel Engine Parts Inc. (dba DHPS), announced today that they will be investing some $5 million and moving their manufacturing and remanufacturing operations to Roane Regional Business and Technology Park.
DHPS, which performs final machining of engine parts, has acquired Roane Regional's first spec industrial building and expects to move its operations and 35-member workforce to Roane County later this year. DHPS was founded in 1974 by DHPS co-owner Richard Emert.
"We couldn't be more pleased about Diesel Engine Parts' decision to invest in Roane County," Leslie Henderson, President and CEO of The Roane Alliance said of the announcement that took place at the official grand opening of the spec building. The company also plans to hire additional staff in the very near future, Henderson said, and is already making plans to increase the facility size. "They will be a valuable addition to our park."
"We decided on Roane County because we knew it was going to be the next growth area for East Tennessee industry," said Paul Blizzard, co-owner of DHPS, in his announcement Tuesday at Roane Regional.
"With H.T. Hackney's premier facility leading the park, our staff felt the curb appeal could not be matched by any existing industrial parks within the region. Crete Carrier's announcement to redevelop the race track property, combined with The Roane Alliance's support in introducing a very exciting work force, will enhance our success in the future."
DHPS manufactures and remanufactures engine parts that are cast overseas in their plants in China, India and Turkey. The engine cylinder heads and cylinder blocks will then be sent to the Roane County plant for final machine work. Many of the cylinder heads and cylinder blocks they will be handling will be supplied to the military, for vehicles such as Humvees.
The owners of DHPS -- Paul Blizzard and his father, Richard Emert - decided two years ago that they wanted to make a long-term commitment to manufacturing in this region by purchasing or building a building for their growing operations. DHPS is presently leasing a building on the South Knoxville waterfront. They had been searching for the perfect location -- based on many factors -- when their search was interrupted by a catastrophic fire in the existing plant last year.
Blizzard said at the event on the Sam Rayburn Boulevard site today, "The high-quality Butler spec building provided by Joseph Construction to the site enhanced our decision by saving time to develop from ground zero. The state-of-the-art facility-financing support provided by Knoxville-based, Bank East, closed the deal to relocate to Roane County. DHPS is very excited to be here! "
"This project is a good example of what can be accomplished when the private sector gets involved and partners to promote and help develop a public industrial park," Roane County Industrial Board Chair Steve Kirkham said of the DHPS announcement.
Roane Regional's spec building program is being developed by a private partnership, DEKD, whose managing partner is Gerry Eastman, the president of Joseph Construction.
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Contact:
Leslie Henderson
(865) 376-2903
