Chatsworth Products will invest $11 million in an expansion at its New Bern facility that makes IT equipment. The Simi Valley, California-based company expects the expansion to add about 45 jobs to its workforce.
Also known as CPI, the 100% employee-owned company manufactures infrastructure hardware and equipment for the information and communication technology industries. It specializes in engineering thermal, power and cable solutions to help power data centers, in addition to enterprise networking and industrial enclosures. The expansion in New Bern will increase its production capacity and allow CPI to introduce new product lines.
“Chatsworth Products has been delivering innovative data center infrastructure solutions for over 34 years to our global customer base fueled by our employee-ownership culture,” said CEO Ted Behrens in a release.
New positions include machine operators, packers and warehouse staff. Annual wages for new positions will average $50,224, which exceeds the Craven County average of $48,770. The new jobs could potentially create an annual payroll impact of more than $2.2 million for the region.
Chatsworth has had an operation in New Bern since 1993. Chatsworth now employs 230 workers in New Bern, says Jeff Wood, director of Craven County Economic Development. The company expects its investment to grow to $15 million with the addition of 150 jobs within five years, Wood says. Chatsworth has a total 755 U.S. employees and about 60 assigned internationally.
A performance-based grant of $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund awarded to Chatsworth Products will help facilitate the company’s expansion. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. The company also will receive $50,000 worth of local incentives, Wood says.
CPI operates from multiple sites worldwide, including offices in Mexico, Canada, China, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. CPI’s manufacturing facilities are located in the United States, Asia and Europe. Other U.S. locations include Georgetown and Round Rock, Texas.