11/3/04 Tennessee.gov: The official website of the state of Tennessee
COOKEVILLE — Matt Kisber, Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development joined city and county officials in Cookeville today to announce the location of a new high-tech manufacturing company supplying a diverse automotive industry. MP Components Inc., a 31-year-old company headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., was introduced to the community in today during a media conference at Leslie Town Centre in Cookeville. The company is expected to employ about 50 people within five years — 10 within the first six months — and a pay scale ranging from $14 to $20 per hour. The company will locate in a 10,000-square foot building — which will be under construction soon — in the Lemon Farris Industrial Park on the east side of Cookeville. Matt Kisber, commissioner of the Tennessee Dept. of Economic & Community Development, introduced the company. “MP Components is certainly a success story for this thriving area,” said Kisber. “Cookeville has gained a valuable corporate partner that is integrating technology and craftsmanship with a highly skilled work force. It is my understanding that no other company within 300 miles of this region does what this company can do. We certainly believe that this will be an economic advantage in attracting other investments to this region.” The media conference was attended by MP Components company officers Joseph Schlatter, vice president and general manager; John Schlatter, controller; and Rollin Runge project engineer who will manage the Cookeville operation; state and local elected and appointed officials; and Cookeville Area-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce members, officers and staff. “We are so pleased to welcome MP Components as our newest corporate citizen,” said Joe Albrecht, chairman of the board of the Cookeville Area-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. “This company certainly fits the profile we have developed for economic and community development.” George Halford, Chamber president/CEO, said MP Components had considered at least three other cities in Tennessee before settling on Cookeville. They liked our town, our people, our great educational institutions and the teamwork that existed among the Chamber, Putnam County Commission, County Executive Kim Blaylock, Cookeville City Council, Cookeville Mayor Chuck Womack, and City Manager Jim Shipley. “And this is exactly the kind of company we want to continue to recruit to our community and region — one that pays its people well and takes an active interest in community affairs. We believe we’re on our way to developing a core of high-tech, high-paying companies that will attract other such companies,” Halford said. Tennessee Tech University, with its world renowned engineering programs, the Cookeville Campus of Nashville State Community College, the county school system and area vo-tech schools were also key factors in the company’s decision to locate in Putnam County. MP Components was founded in 1973 in Grand Rapids by Larry Wiersma and Otto Schlatter as Model Pattern Company to build high quality models, patterns and prototypes. Over the years the company adapted to the industry’s changing needs. Today the company has more than 70 employees manufacturing checking fixtures from very simple to very complex automated gauges, models and foundry patterns, aluminum tooling, vacuum molds, blow molds, foam and compression molds. With the introduction of automation, the company has been enabled to serve automotive, furniture, appliance, and a host of other related industries. In 1996, the company changed its name from Model Pattern Company to MP Components to encompass its wide range of capabilities. Two years ago, co-founder Wiersma left the company and Joe Schlatter moved up to vice president. He has been with MP Components since 1989 and has worked in many positions in the company. MP Components has been awarded ISO 9001:2000 accreditation and is working toward ISO/IEC 17025 with A2LA accreditation. Among the services the company provides is parts studies, third party certification, annual re-certification of gauges and new-machine needs. Types of Machines that have been built by MP Components include: -Automated check fixtures integrated into weld lines (100 percent check). |