MetoKote Investing in German Manufacturing Facility

Berlin (ots) - MetoKote Corporation, a provider of protective
coating applications based in the United States, has chosen Germany
as the site of its new manufacturing plant. With a EUR 6.5 million
investment, the company broke ground last week on its new facility in
the Southern German city of Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg.

The new investment will also serve as a pilot project focused on
reaching further customers in continental Europe. It is the company's
first office in Germany. The 11,500 square meter site will include a
production facility, warehouse, and administration building. The
company expects to begin production as soon as July 2010 and plans to
eventually employ 50 workers at the plant. The rapid turnaround time
was made possible by Germany's efficient investment framework.

DeWayne Pinkstaff, President and CEO of MetoKote, came from
company headquarters in Lima, Ohio to attend the groundbreaking
ceremony in Mannheim on Wednesday. Pinkstaff was enthusiastic about
the company's new presence in Germany: "We are very much looking
forward to producing in Germany. The site is optimal for us, as it is
located in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area, one of the most
dynamic areas in Europe. The region provides us with an excellent
opportunity to reach new customers. Germany Trade & Invest and the
regional development agency Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH were
instrumental in helping our company find a suitable location and
assisting us through the entire investment process." One major factor
in MetoKote's decision to invest in Mannheim was its close proximity
to customer and agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere. The
agricultural giant has had its tractor factory and European
Headquarters in Mannheim since 1956. John Deere Werke Mannheim
factory manager Dr.Volker Knickel also attended the groundbreaking
ceremony.

MetoKote supplies coating applications, such as electrocoating
(e-coat), powder coating, and liquid paint, for a variety of
industries, including agriculture, appliance, automotive,
construction equipment, industrial equipment, recreational, and truck
and bus.

The company was assisted throughout the investment process by
Germany Trade & Invest along with Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar GmbH (
www.standorte-rhein-neckar.de ).

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment
promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization
advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities
in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to
German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Originaltext: Germany Trade and Invest
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Pressekontakt:
Eva Henkel
Eva.henkel@gtai.com
Phone: +49-30-200099-173
Fax: +49-30-200099-111