Apollo Flow Controls will consolidate Northeast U.S. distribution operations for three of its affiliates into a building recently constructed by Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services in CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park East, Jenkins Township.
Part of Aalberts Industries of Langbroek, Netherlands, Apollo Flow Controls produces and sells the most complete line of flow control products in the commercial and industrial markets today. The company has operations across the U.S. with manufacturing in North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, and Tennessee.
The project will consolidate distribution operations for Apollo Valves, Elkhart Products Corporation and LASCO Fittings, Inc., which will distribute products from a 232,500 square foot building constructed on speculation by Mericle at 500 Keystone Avenue. LASCO Fittings has been a tenant of Mericle’s in the Hanover Industrial Estates since 2003.
Local Service Center Operations Manager Jack Novitski said being located in Northeastern Pennsylvania will make it possible for the companies to get their products to northeast customers within one business day.
“Our proximity to our customers, our dedicated workers, and the region’s excellent trucking firms will combine to help us deliver our full line of flow serve products quickly and efficiently,” he said. “When Apollo Flow Controls decided to consolidate distribution operations, LASCO’s prior success in Northeastern Pennsylvania did not go unnoticed,” he said.
Novitski said Apollo will employ approximately 30 people in the building once the full product lines of the three companies are ready for distribution. “We think it’s likely that in the near future, we will add similar products to complement our current lines of products used in the Northeast market,” he said.
Mericle Vice President Bob Besecker coordinated the real estate transaction along with Cushman & Wakefield Executive Director Gerry Blinebury and Senior Director Leah Balerno of the firm’s Harrisburg and Philadelphia’s offices and Britt Casey of the firm’s Rosemont, Illinois office.
Mericle constructed the building on speculation on 22.72 acres immediately adjacent to Interstate 81. The building features 30’ to 36’4” ceiling clear heights, 26 loading doors, and energy-efficient utilities. The building is approximately one mile from Interstate 81 and Interstate 476.
Besecker said the project is another example of the importance of having a wide variety of space available when companies show interest in Northeastern Pennsylvania. “There was an aggressive occupancy deadline set by the company for this project,” said Besecker. “Fortunately, our construction team was far enough along on the building that we were able to fast track the remaining work and meet the company’s schedule.”
Besecker said Mericle started construction on the speculative building last October on one of the company’s ReadyToGo! Sites. The site had been fully prepared for future construction well in advance of this project Besecker said.
Pat Stella, President of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, said the decision by Apollo Flow Controls further validates the Pittston area as premier location for the world’s top companies. “We’ve seen more than 40 companies move into CenterPoint in just the past 10 years,” she said. “There is no doubt that Greater Pittston’s strategic location, highly productive workforce, and affordable business costs are combining with Mericle’s speculative development program to attract jobs and investment to our area.”
Founded by Robert K. Mericle, Mericle Construction Inc. self-performs virtually all aspects of development and construction, using its own in-house personnel, Mericle Construction is better able to control costs and fast track delivery schedules to meet its clients’ needs. It fashions itself as a throwback to the “master builder” of old when experienced craftsmen self-performed all aspects of the construction process.