Adding Value

Through Creative Solutions

Current News - Archived News

Viatran Celebrates Grand Opening in The Woodlands Corporate Center

Tue, May 18th 2010 08:00 am, by kgriffiths

Viatran Grand Opening

Viatran celebrated today with an official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new headquarters in Calamar's mixed-use development, The Woodlands Corporate Center East.   Viatran's New York operation signed a lease with Calamar to occupy approximately 18,000 square feet of space at 3829 Forest Parkway, a 42,000 S.F. multi-tenant facility in Wheatfield.  Viatran, a Dynisco company, is a worldwide leader providing pressure and level sensors in applications such as oil and gas services, steel productions, food and medical equipment, injection molding, die casting and chemical production.

The Woodlands Corporate Center East is a 120-acre mixed use park developed by Calamar comprised of commercial, industrial, office, and residential components with both build-to-suit land opportunities as well as multi-tenant flex facilities.  The Woodlands Corporate Center is located just minutes from Amherst at the Niagara/Erie County borders and represents the largest mixed-use development in Niagara County. Calamar is dedicating over $150,000,000.00 of capital investment and is expected to create and retain 2,500 jobs. 

Viatran was formerly headquartered on Grand Island and considered other locations and out-of-state options before selecting The Woodlands Corporate Center. "Total building value" was a large factor in the selection process as was the Empower Niagara program.  Empower Niagara is a non-for profit Development Corporation that is authorized to enter into agreements for the purposes of providing certain electric power benefits to those industries that meet certain qualifying criteria.

"We're honored to welcome such a dynamic, world wide organization to our property", said Calamar President Kenneth M. Franasiak.  "We're extremely pleased to announce this important step for The Woodlands Corporate Center, which is attracting strong interest and will further our strategy to position the park as a destination for national and international clients".  Calamar is presently home to several international organizations.

"The signing of an established and stable corporation like Viatran, who has been in business for over 40 years, to The Woodlands Corporate Center reflects the efforts of many.  We deeply appreciate the commitment demonstrated by our partners in this endeavor - State Senator George Maziarz, Niagara County Legislature Chairman Bill Ross,  The Department of Economic Development, Chairman Henry Sloma and Executive Director Sam Ferraro  of The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency who were instrumental in procuring hydro power for this project through the Empower Niagara program, a program designed to allocate low cost power as an incentive to draw business to Niagara County.  This project would not be possible without their full support and cooperation", Franasiak added.

Viatran, which began operations in 1965 with only three people inside an old garage on the west side of Buffalo has grown tremendously and has offices in Franklin, MA as well as Malaysia.  They currently employ approximately 50 people and anticipate hiring an additional 25 persons within the next three years.  They have already hired three new employees and foresee hiring more in the very near future.

Ken Brown, Dynisco's President, is very thankful to Calamar and the representatives of Niagara County who have worked so hard to bring Viatran to The Woodlands Corporate Center. This move is a major step in Dynisco's strategic growth plan and will allow product expansion opportunities in a first class manufacturing facility.