Roembke Expanding in Ossian

Tax abatement approved for Roembke growth

March 13, 2012 — By GLEN WERLING

Roembke Manufacturing in Ossian is planning a three-year new equipment installation that could add 10 jobs and help retain the 43 current employees at the plant.

Ossian Town Council members Josh Barkley, Terri Hughes-Lazzell, Brad Pursley and Athena Brickley rewarded CEO John Roembke’s announcement Monday night by granting him a 10-year tax abatement for $2.5 million worth of new equipment. Council member Angie Dial was absent.

The equipment that will be installed and purchased over the next three years will be eight new computerized numerical control machines at a cost of $2 million, measuring equipment at a cost of $200,000, testing equipment at a cost of $100,000 and computer equipment at a cost of $200,000.

The abatement will be on a depreciating scale with 100 percent abatement of property taxes the first year, 90 percent the second, 80 percent the third, and so forth.

“We continue to specialize in the design and building of precision molds for the rubber industry,” Roembke said. “We have developed new styles of mold design that allow us to align ourselves with more medical product companies in the future. To support the new customer base and more complex product, newer equipment is needed to utilize the technology, speed and efficiency to make the more complex product.”