Steelite Eyes June Construction Start for Pa. Distribution Center
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Steelite International could begin construction in June on a new distribution center near its current facilities in Neshannock Township, Pa., the company’s president and CEO said Tuesday.
Steelite, which manufactures and supplies tabletop, buffet and lighting options for the hospitality industry, had announced in a Monday afternoon news release it had signed a definitive agreement to purchase a 96-acre site near its existing facilities on Keystone Drive in Neshannock, where it plans to develop “a cutting-edge distribution facility.”
Plans are being finalized for the building, which will be “significantly larger” than Steelite’s 154 Keystone Drive building, which is about 8 million cubic feet, said John Miles, president and CEO.
“We’re moving toward preparation for construction,” he said. We very much hope that occurs in June, and we would anticipate moving in in June 2025.”
The new distribution center is expected to enhance Steelite’s logistical capabilities and streamline its supply chain, benefiting customers across the Americas, according to the news release. The company’s core brands include Steelite Distinction & Performance, William Edwards, D.W. Haber, Creations, Folio, Varick, Homer Laughlin, Hall China, Hollowick and Aspen Drinkware.
Miles cited “robust business conditions” as driving the expansion. Between acquisitions and organic growth, business has been growing about 20% annually in recent years.
“We’re currently working in multiple warehouses in the region, and what this will do is enable us to consolidate and just be more efficient,” Miles said. The 154 Keystone building will continue to operate.
The company has 175 employees in New Castle and anticipates increasing employment by about 20%, according to Alison Clingensmith, Steelite director of marketing.
The land deal will close following permitting, which is taking place in collaboration with federal, state, county and township officials and which Miles said he hoped would be finalized in the next few weeks. Bids are being assembled for the project, so he was hesitant to share a cost estimate for the project.
The warehouse announcement comes the year after Steelite moved its corporate headquarters from New Castle to the Taft Technology Center in downtown Youngstown, a move announced in June 2022.
Steelite has completed relocation of the 100 headquarters employees to Youngstown, Clingensmith said. That includes the offices of the CEO and finance, marketing, product management, sales support, customer service, information technology support and logistics departments.
The company also operates a showroom in downtown Youngstown’s Commerce Building.
Pictured at top: John Miles, Steelite International’s president and CEO, speaks during a news conference in the company’s global showroom and experience center in downtown Youngstown in June 2022. Miles announced that the company’s corporate headquarters would move to the city’s central business district.
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