Published in the Express-Times, by Lynn Olanoff

October 23, 2013

Industrial manufacturer Flexicon Corp. plans to double its Bethlehem Township, Pa., facility and add 50 jobs to its 138-person workforce.

The company is planning a $6.3 million, 90,000-square-foot addition to its current 91,000-square-foot facility on Emrick Boulevard within Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VI, according to a news release.

Flexicon, a manufacturer of engineered industrial bulk handling and processing equipment and systems, serves many markets including food, chemical, mining, construction materials, pharmaceuticals and petroleum. The company’s newest product includes a tubular cable conveyor designed to carry fragile items such as coffee, cereal and nuts.

“We have seen strong growth in several of our vertical markets and we have expanded our product lines,” Flexicon President David Gill said in a statement. “As a result, we are beginning to exceed the capacity of our Bethlehem headquarters.”

The company had previously operated in Harmony Township before moving in 2001 to Bethlehem Township.

“Flexicon is the type of high-quality manufacturing company that we want to stay and grow here in the Lehigh Valley,” Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. President and CEO Don Cunningham said in a statement.

Flexicon is receiving $2.25 million in low-interest state loans as well as $222,500 in state grants and tax credits for the project. Gov. Tom Corbett’s office announced the expansion project today.

The announcement was the 15th this year on job growth in the Lehigh Valley, Corbett’s office noted, with the resulting total job creation for the region projected to be more than 1,340 new jobs.

(Lynn Olanoff, "Flexicon Corp. to double Bethlehem Township, Pa. facility, add 50 jobs," Express-Times, 10/23/13)