EAST CHICAGO | Hoist Liftruck Mfg., Inc., plans to add up to 500 new jobs over the next seven years in East Chicago, where it will make heavy-duty forklifts.
The company, which employs 300 in Chicago's western suburbs, plans to move into a 550,000-square-foot building at 4407 Railroad Ave. in East Chicago. Most of its operations will relocate from Bedford Park, Ill.
"Our East Chicago expansion represents a significant investment in Hoist Liftruck in order for us to meet our growing demand," said Marty Flaska, president and chief executive officer of Hoist Liftruck. "We are excited to partner with East Chicago and the state of Indiana on this project that will be integral to our growth."
Back in 1980, Flaska founded Forklift Exchange in his suburban Chicago home. The company focused on buying, selling and renting material handling equipment until 1994, when he bought the rights to build forklifts from Silent Hoist and Crane in Brooklyn.
The business became Hoist Liftruck, which serves heavy industries such as steel, intermodal and the military.
Hoist Liftruck builds everything from pneumatic forklifts to container handlers, and its 100-percent American-made liftrucks can lift between 15,000 and 125,000 lbs.
Lake County Indiana Economic Alliance officials said the jobs will pay an average of $55,000 a year and the company will invest around $50 million in East Chicago.
The Times first reported the development in July, but the company initially went unnamed.
Hoist Liftruck, which manufactures high-capacity material handling equipment, will renovate a 110-year-old building formerly occupied by Blaw-Knox Casting and Machinery, which made hulls and turrets for military tanks there until 1986. The building in the East Chicago Enterprise Center has been mostly vacant for the last 10 years.
"Bringing jobs and investment to East Chicago is a priority," East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland said. "We thank the Flaska family and their company for selecting East Chicago to expand its operations. Hoist's commitment to grow their organization in our community is a testament to our goal of revitalizing the city's industrial core. East Chicago is on the move in a positive direction and we look forward to growing with Hoist in their future success."
The company has new contracts, and will have more space to expand its production of heavy-duty forklifts. Orders have increased "significantly."
Hoist Liftruck expects to close on the building late this summer and create hundreds of new jobs in Indiana this year. More jobs are expected in coming years.
Indiana is giving the company up to $8.25 million in tax credits as a reward for the hiring, and $200,000 for employee training. East Chicago, the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority and NIPSCO also are offering additional incentives.
"Comparing business climates from around the Midwest to Indiana, the Hoosier advantage is clear," Governor Mike Pence said. "Our low taxes, affordable cost of doing business and skilled Hoosier workforce are key factors in helping companies grow."
The company will need general laborers, concrete finishers, pipefitters, carpenters, iron workers, painters, plumber fitters, electricians and truck drivers for the construction.