Jeannette's Elliott Group touted as economic development model for state

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

Countries around the world have a piece of Jeannette.

With few exceptions, the compressors, turbines and cryogenic pumps designed and manufactured at Elliott Group's U.S. headquarters are shipped globally, a testament to the 110-year-old company's ability to expand and adapt while keeping a talented workforce close to home, according to director of operations Michael Storms.

That is just the kind of business Pennsylvania is looking for, said Steve D’Ettore, state Department of Community and Economic Development deputy secretary of technology and innovation.

"Manufacturing is a key industry in Pennsylvania," he said during a tour of the company's engineering and manufacturing operations in Jeannette.

The tour was conducted in conjunction with Manufacturing Week in Pennsylvania. Storms led a small group through Elliott's complex off Harrison Avenue, pointing out various pieces of equipment being built, tested or prepared for shipment for use in industries such as oil and gas, liquefied natural gas and petrochemical.

A $60 million cryogenic pump test stand facility has been operating for about a year on a separate 13-acre property off Bullitt Avenue that previously held the Jeannette Glass plant, which was closed in 1983 and left to decay. Local, state and federal dollars were used to acquire the land and prepare it for redevelopment.

The new facility added about 100 jobs there and at the headquarters complex a short drive away, making Elliott Group one of a few companies in the world that manufacture cryogenic pumps and expanders. Elliott is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Ebara Corp.

Elliott Group Chief Executive Officer Nobu Miyaki met with state officials and expressed appreciation for the department's support.

"We are very proud to have this new test stand in Jeannette," he said.

The company, which has been in Jeannette since 1914 after relocating from Pittsburgh, has employed generations of families and is connected to the community, he said.

"It's our benefit to be here," Miyaki said.

About 980 employees work at the Jeannette location, and the company connects with local high schools and universities to expose students to potential jobs and recruit. Storms discussed employee benefits while explaining jobs in different parts of the plant during the tour.

While pointing out an enormous compressor being readied for shipment, Storms mentioned the work of Elliott Group employees to find appropriate roads that can bear heavy loads that can clock in around 250,000 pounds or more.

A $1.2 million state investment in modifications to the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass — Toll Route 66 — including road and toll booth improvements to better accommodate those large trucks was completed in 2017. That has helped dramatically, Storms told D’Ettorre.

"Hopefully, some of the infrastructure dollars (that are) coming in can help in other areas," D’Ettorre said.

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.