The economic effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic have devastated some business sectors.
But some manufacturers will recall 2020 as a year of huge development and investment, said Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce.
In the fall, the chamber introduced its Eat, Drink, Win program for area residents to enter for chance at at $100 gift card when they dined at local restaurants. It was a way to help small businesses struggling due to shutdowns and reduced capacity because of COVID-19, Gallo said.
Tony Gallo
He also highlighted expansions and growth in Lorain County’s manufacturing sector.
Meet Avient
One of Lorain County’s key industrial concerns got a new name and a huge boost in the summer.
Avon Lake-based PolyOne Corp. in July announced it acquired Clariant Masterbatch, a $1.44 billion deal that began in December last year.
The Clariant Masterbatch business includes 46 manufacturing operations and technology centers in 29 countries and about 3,500 employees.
The combined company is now called Avient and the Clariant Masterbatch workers joined the company’s Color, Additives and Inks segment.
“Under this new brand, we bring two global leaders together to create a specialty company focused on sustainable solutions for our customers, being a Great Place to Work for our associates, and creating value for all stakeholders,” said Robert M. Patterson, chairman, president and CEO of Avient.
The company now has 9,100 workers — with the corporate headquarters still 33587 Walker Road.
“So PolyOne’s world headquarters is still located — Avient now, is still located in Avon Lake,” Gallo said.
“This is a really good thing for us,” he said. “The fact that the world headquarters is here says a lot. And the one thing that most people probably don’t realize is that, they’re a key supplier in the pandemic response and recovery.”
Avient’s plastics and resins are used in ventilators, masks, tubing, test kits and other healthcare devices and equipment, Gallo said.
“I would be shocked if they didn’t have an increase in business with all of that being so necessary with what’s going on today,” he said.
General Plug
General Plug & Manufacturing in Oberlin, is a primary manufacturer of pipe plugs, reducer bushings, and special screw machine parts for the automotive, pipe/valve/fitting, electrical and fastener industries.
Gallo said he was present when a new $1 million machine arrived atop a 77-axle trailer so large it required an Ohio Highway Patrol escort to roll from northwest Ohio to Oberlin.
The machinery is one of just seven or so of its kind, built and installed around the world, he said.
Tyson Foods
In August, Tyson Foods announced an expansion to its Amherst sandwich processing facility that already had 525 workers at 1833 Cooper Foster Park Road.
“When there was such a disruption in the food chain when COVID, again, what’s bad for certain industries is good for others,” Gallo said. “Tyson Foods over there needed to have an expansion and they’re in the process of hiring 200 more people there.”
Thogus
Avon Lake-based Thogus, 33490 Pin Oak Parkway, a custom plastic parts maker, purchased six machines this year, a $2 million investment that will add up to 30 jobs by the end of 2020, Gallo said.
That company expects 2020 volumes to be up from last year, with more growth in 2021, he said.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were shortages of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, medical gowns and face shields. The issue of buying imported PPE became national news.
Thogus joined with Eaton in a commitment to make 1 million face shields.
“We’ve got local companies that are contributing to the good of all of this as well. It’s keeping our local employees working and contributing to the local economy because of that,” Gallo said.
Defense Soap owner Guy Sako, left, with his son Maximus Sako, 7, in his new warehouse at 3390 Liberty Ave. in Vermilion. The company has been overwhelmed with demand for its disinfecting tablets, soap and other cleansers in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Defense Soap
In 2020, Defense Soap completed its new corporate headquarters in Vermilion.
Earlier this year, owner Guy Sako said starting in March, the company’s website traffic grew 8,000 percent during the beginning of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The company’s disinfectant tablets landed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s approved list of antimicrobial products that can effectively fight COVID-19.
Sustainability?
The COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed, but that will not eliminate the need for PPE in coming months.
Gallo participated in the Lorain County commissioners’ Community Protection Team weekly online conferences with local elected officials and medical experts. He noted Dr. Rebecca Starck, president of Cleveland Clinic’s Avon Hospital, reminded participants that the vaccination process will be staggered, so she is encouraging people to still wear masks and maintain social distancing because it is impossible to tell who is vaccinated.
“I think there’s this misconception that, OK, the vaccine is here, and we’re not going to have to wear masks anymore and we’re not going to have to social distance. It’s going to be late spring, maybe early summer, before the opportunity to get everybody vaccinated is even going to take place,” Gallo said.
“Is it sustainable for the long term? I don’t know that it is, but I will tell you … what we used to buy overseas, we’re not going to have the need to buy that overseas anymore,” he said.
Finding work(ers)
About two years ago, several local business leaders joined to create the Lorain County Manufacturing Sector Partnership to tell the story of contemporary ways of making and building products.
Although they don’t all make the same things, the companies do have some things alike. The chiefs wanted to start a dialogue on issues such as hiring practices, Gallo said.
They also want to work with school districts to remind educators that manufacturing jobs that need to be filled can turn into careers for local students, he said.
“I’ve said this a hundred times … manufacturing today is not what manufacturing was when Lorain and Lorain County were known for manufacturing,” Gallo said. “It’s cleaner. The majority of it’s cleaner, the majority of it us done on computers and using people’s brains. It’s not just putting bolt A onto screw B. It’s more involved than that.”
The partnership has created a website, lcmsp.org, that aims to match workers with new jobs.
The partners also will host a virtual open house on Jan. 20 for any companies that would like to learn more. Information is available by calling 440-933-8850 ext. 1270.