EMBARGOED UNTIL JAN. 30, 11 a.m.
Contact: Steve Blomquist, 540-387-8137, Director, Strategic Process and Marketing, steve.blomquist@tmeic-ge.com
Doug Chittum, Director of Economic Development, 540-772-2070, dchittum@roanokecountyva.gov
TMEIC GE Announces Relocation of Headquarters
SALEM, Va. (Jan. 30, 2008)—TMEIC GE, internationally based integrator of drives automation systems and one of the Roanoke Valley’s largest employers of high technology automation engineers, announced today that it will move from the Salem location it currently shares with GE Energy Controls and Power Electronics to the former headquarters of the Atlantic Mutual Companies, at 1325 Electric Rd. in Roanoke County.
Renovations have begun on the new 85,000 sq ft. space, which will house offices, meeting rooms, training facilities, test labs and support service areas for the company’s nearly 300 North American employees. Relocation is expected to begin in the next 60 days and should be completed by mid-summer.
“TMEIC GE has experienced very rapid growth in the past five years, adding 58 new employees since 2006 and we simply outgrew our former location,” said Dale Guidry, President and CEO. “Fortunately, we found the perfect building located just a mile from our previous home.”
In a media conference held today, Guidry announced his thanks to the TMEIC management team that approved the relocation and to the customers and suppliers that have contributed to the TMEIC GE growth. He also credited the active roles played by the region’s economic development offices, Fralin & Waldron and Roanoke County officials in providing the zoning assistance needed to make the decision to stay in the area a logical one.
“Virginia is a very friendly business state, and the Roanoke Valley has been an exceptional location, first for GE and now for our joint venture,” says Guidry. “We’ve been part of the community for over 50 years and hope to continue this relationship for years to come.”
“We are thrilled that TMEIC GE has chosen Roanoke County for this significant relocation and expansion,” said Elmer Hodge, Roanoke County Administrator. “Retaining and growing a workforce of 300 high paying technology based jobs, with these tremendously successful international companies is great news for Roanoke County. We are delighted to have partnered with TMEIC GE in planning for future growth at this new location, while at the same time returning a fantastic and well-known facility into a highly productive reuse.”
TMEIC GE was formed between 2000 and 2003 as a joint venture between Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and GE, which operated a drives system business for more than seventy years. The TMEIC joint venture between Toshiba and Mitsubishi, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, holds the majority ownership of TMEIC GE. This move in no way will lessen the close business relationship that TMEIC GE maintains with GE businesses across North America and globally.
The company builds drives and automation systems which provide control for the production of metals and related products, paper, cement, cranes, oil and gas, mining, and other industries. TMEIC and TMEIC GE are the leading suppliers of drives and automation for the many new hot strip steel mills globally and has offices around the globe.
For more information, contact www.tmeicge.com.
####
About TMEIC GE
TMEIC GE is a joint venture between TMEIC (a joint venture between Toshiba & Mitsubishi Electric) and General Electric in the industrial drive systems business. TMEIC employs 2,200 people around the world and has annual sales in excess of $2B. TMEIC GE is built on the combined and proud heritage of these companies, delivering customer success--every project, every time. www.tmeicge.com