Officials of Sanoh America, Inc., Findlay, said Monday they have purchased the Cooper Standard factory on East Lugbill Road, in Archbold.

The move will bring about 30 jobs to Archbold once the facility is at full production. Company officials expect to reach full production by the middle of the third quarter of this year.

The company released few details, but said it had purchased “the property and associated assets of Cooper Standard Automotive manufacturing facility.”

Jim Wyse, Archbold mayor, said the move has been in the works for about two years.

“It’s been going on for quite some time. They’ve been looking at other properties in other communities.”

Wyse said village officials have discussed some financial incentives with Sanoh.

“The (Archbold Village Council) finance committee will meet next Monday to discuss some income tax incentives,” he said.

Council has discussed the deal in executive session.

Who Is Sanoh?

Company websites say Sanoh America, Inc., began in 1986 as a joint venture between Sanoh Industrial Company, Limited, of Japan, and ITT Industries in the U.S.

At the beginning, the joint venture operated under the name HiSan, Inc. Its headquarters was established in Findlay.

Over the years, the company opened production facilities in Ontario, Alabama, and Mississippi.

In 2005, the joint venture between Sanoh and ITT was dissolved, with Sanoh taking ownership. The following year, HiSan became Sanoh America.

The Plant

The Archbold facility has operated under several names; Fulton Tubing, ITTHigbie, ITT Automotive, and Cooper Standard.

It has always been involved in the production of small-diameter tubing used in automobile brake lines and other similar applications.

At one time, the plant employed more than 400 workers.

It was said the Archbold plant was the only facility in the free world that could start with coils of flat steel, and turn out finished smalldiameter tube auto parts at the other.

Cooper Standard acquired the Archbold plant in February 2006 when the company purchased ITT’s fluid handling systems.

About 11 months later, in January 2007, Cooper Standard announced the factory would be closed. Originally, the company said it would shut down operations in 2008, but limited production continued into 2009.

Archbold?

Lance Garceau, director of administration for Sanoh America, declined to discuss the acquisition, other than to say the Archbold plant is a good fit for Sanoh.

Wyse said what he consistently heard throughout negotiations was that the company was drawn to Archbold’s workforce.

“Some of their management has prior experience here, and knew the quality of our workers. That’s what drew them to explore opening the facility,” he said.

Another factor is some of the manufacturing equipment is still in the plant; Sanoh can start operations without the expense of moving equipment to Archbold.

Fulton County, ODOD

Wyse said the Fulton County economic development arm and the Ohio Department of Development have been working with Archbold officials to bring Sanoh to town.

“Lisa Arend (Fulton County economic development director) has put in many hours on this project. There were times over the last couple of years we thought it was a go, then it would hit a snag,” he said.

“One of the things that has me excited is that these are auto-related jobs.

“The auto industry had a long history here (in Archbold), but this latest economic downturn has eliminated all auto-related jobs,” he said.

Not quite. American Colloid Company, which provides specialized casting sand to the auto industry, still operates a facility in Archbold.

Wyse said, “I’ve heard that when the auto industry turns around, there is a lot of potential for those who survived the downturn.