Compin USA is coming to Steuben County.
The company says it will locate a manufacturing plant in Wayland, Steuben County to build seats for transportation industry projects, including Amtrak’s next-generation high-speed trainsets which are being manufactured by Alstom in nearby Hornell.
Compin USA is leasing manufacturing space vacated by Gunlocke which recently announced a local workforce reduction in its upholstery division. ESD is supporting this project with up to $80,000 in Excelsior Tax Credits for the creation of up to 31 new jobs. The total project cost has been placed at $270,000. The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency offered technical assistance to help bring the two companies together.
“Compin USA’s arrival in the Southern Tier will further strengthen the transportation manufacturing sector that is helping drive the region’s resurgence. Investing in key industries like this one, across New York State, creates jobs and sets the foundation for long-term, sustainable economic growth,” said Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler.
Compin USA, a subsidiary of French company Compin/Fainsa, will exclusively manufacture railway passenger seats and interior components at the plant in the Town of Wayland. That project will include the creation of an upholstery business unit in which subcomponents of seats will be produced. Additionally, the company will use its global expertise to create an assembly unit to supply the manufactured seats for the Alstom-built high-speed trainsets. Patrick Bouchet, Group Chief Operating Officer will manage the setup of the Steuben County facility and Nicolas Moiroux will operate and manage the U.S. site operation in Wayland. The company expects to be operational at the site by May 2021.
“The implementation of the COMPIN Inc plant is a key milestone in the COMPIN FAINSA Corp organic growth. Whereas COMPIN FAINSA features a well – developed industrial footprint in Europe (5 industrial sites) the launch of the COMPIN US plant will enable our Group to meet our long-term strategy in developing its Seats and Interior Systems railways business for the North American continent,” Marc JAMMOT, President & CEO of COMPIN group said. “We want indeed to take advantage of the skilled American workforce as well as the presence of the assembly plant of main US car builders in the NY state to tighten our links with local partners. We are very proud to settle in Wayland and to develop our partnership with the company Gunlocke. Over the next months we will transfer to our US plant our Seat know-how to offer to the US railways passengers the high-end quality and comfort of European seats.”
In November of 2016, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $30 million in Upstate Revitalization Initiative funding to support the expansion of Alstom which added nearly 200 new jobs in Hornell, Steuben County. The project was motivated by Alstom’s successful bid to provide 28 next-generation high-speed trainsets for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair Judy McKinney Cherry and Broome Community College President Kevin Drumm voiced their support for the project in a joint-statement. “The Compin USA and Alstom projects represent a win-win for the Southern Tier and all of New York State. Under the Governor’s, leadership we are making transformative investments in leading industries and improving our transportation network for the 21st century ensuring that the region with continue to soar for years to come. This investment further enhances our global partnerships,” the duo said.
“The partnership between Compin USA and Gunlocke to revitalize a manufacturing plant in Steuben County is outstanding and exciting news for the future of transportation manufacturing across the Southern Tier. It brings critical new manufacturing jobs to Steuben County and will continue to strengthen one of this region’s most important foundations for economic growth and job creation,” added Sen. Tom O’Mara.
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