SOUTH BEND — A manufacturer of metal-processing equipment has asked for a tax break of more than $100,000 from the St. Joseph County Council to build another production facility and create 20 to 25 production jobs here.
Abtrex Industries, southwest of South Bend in Greene Township, says the facility is needed to take the place of a 9,000-square-foot building that was demolished after being damaged by an accident last fall. A pressurized machine exploded, but there were no injuries.
The privately owned company, which makes tanks, vessels and pipes lined with anti-corrosive coatings, plans to invest $1 million to build the facility and buy equipment for it. The company, which has 42 employees, also plans to launch a welder training program later this year that will help it and other manufacturers meet demand for jobs.
The new facility would be part of the company’s multi-building site on Market Street near West Ireland Road. The company’s goal is to break ground on the project this spring and finish it by the end of this year.
The proposal calls for a seven-year real property tax abatement for the facility and a five-year personal property tax abatement for equipment purchases. If abatements are approved, the company would save roughly $108,000 in property taxes over the multi-year period.
A multi-step process is required to approve the deal.