Shelby manufacturing plant to add 86 jobs over next three years

Three units of Nebraska-based Universal Manufacturing Co. will add 86 jobs in Shelby and invest $3.9 million annually in new jobs by the end of 2019, officials announced Wednesday.

Man Lift, Metal Works and Ultra Armor and Defense will operate on West Dixon Boulevard in Shelby, the site of a current Ultra Armor and Defense plant. Metal Works acquired Ultra Armor, formerly Ultra Machine and Fabrication Inc. and Ultra Armoring LLC, in March. Gov. Pat McCrory announced the new jobs at a news conference.

It’s not clear how many of the jobs will be local hires. The jobs will include some current employees of Man Lift who will relocate from Wisconsin by the end of August, said Paul Jensen, sales and marketing director with Metal Works.

The plant will make armor for specialty vehicles as well as lifts and material handling equipment, among other products, according to a news release from the state.

The jobs include both blue-collar and white-collar positions, said Phil Sprio, CEO of Man Lift Manufacturing Co. and Metal Works.

Average annual wage of the jobs will be $45,393, higher than the Cleveland County average of $34,899, according to the state.

The North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant program agreed to grant Metal Works up to 12 annual reimbursements equal to 75 percent of the state personal income tax withholding from the eligible new jobs. That amounts to more than $1.3 million over 12 years upon the creation of 86 jobs, the press release said.

North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, state Commerce Secretary John Skvarla, Shelby Mayor Stanhope Anthony, and executives from the company and Universal Manufacturing Co, the Lincoln, Nebraska-based parent firm of Metal Works, also attended the ceremony.

This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 2:47 PM with the headline "Shelby manufacturing plant to add 86 jobs over next three years."