HK Technologies Outgrows Leetonia Industrial Park

EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – HK Technologies is relocating its factory in Leetonia to a site in Salem, the Columbiana County Port Authority announced Monday at its monthly meeting.

The move to 12750 Salem-Warren Road is effective Feb. 1.

“We started with no customers back in 1996 and with a lot of hard work and a good product line it allowed us to grow,” said Jeff Hochadel, president of HK Technologies. “The majority of our growth in the last couple years has been because of additive materials, which is 3-D printing. We have a unique application for the 3D-printing industry.”

HK Technologies is an affiliate of the Cleveland Vibrator Co. that provides production and laboratory for industrial sized vibratory sieves and ultrasonic vibratory sieves, sifters and screeners for fine particle sizes to handle both wet and dry applications.

The company started in a 2,500-square-foot space before moving to the port authority’s 12,000-square-foot building in Leetonia Industrial Park in 2008. The new building in Salem, which formerly housed the RAG Tooling Co., has 16,000 square feet.

There are currently 10 employees at HK Technologies and the company is looking at hiring a couple more employees this year, Hochadel said.

“This is good news for the Columbiana County workforce, a success story for a local team who have made something happen,” said Penny Traina, CEO of the port authority. “While it is bitter to see HK Technologies relocate, it is the purpose of the building and a sign that the port authority is doing its job.”

The Leetonia Industrial Park building, which the Columbiana County Port Authority owns, was recently updated with a fixed cement floor, new roof, HVAC system, garage door and van door, Traina said. “We’re hopeful we can get that space leased ASAP,” she said. The industrial space also includes two cranes and office space.

At the meeting, board members also approved a new five-year gas and oil lease with Houston-based Hilcorp Energy Co. for 42.302 acres in Fairfield Township, which the Columbiana County Port Authority owns mineral rights of.

The port authority will receive $35,956 in total, or $850 per net acre. The company does intend to drill on the property, Traina added.

In other news, board members approved the same slate of officers for the port authority as 2017. Charlie Presley, chairman; Keith Chamberlin, vice chairman; Nick Amato, secretary; and Tad Herold, fiscal officer.

Pictured: HK Technologies will leave this Leetonia Industrial Park building Feb. 1.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.