Niskayuna Glass Expands
Niskayuna Glass, a locally-owned glass fabrication and distribution facility, is wrapping up a seven month, $900,000 expansion project that added 3,000 square feet of production space and a new manufacturing line to the company’s facility located at 2166 Maxon Road Extension in Schenectady. The expansion includes a new architectural glass tempering facility that company officials believe is a first for the Capital Region.
Mark R. Maslanka, CEO of Niskayuna Glass said, “This tells such a great story about our region’s economic recovery. We are thrilled to be thriving and growing, creating jobs, and servicing more glass shops in the Capital Region as well as customers throughout the Northeastern United States.”
Niskayuna Glass currently fabricates most of its own glass needs in-house and purchases the rest from outside vendors. Prior to the expansion, all tempered glass was purchased from suppliers. By adding the ability to manufacture tempered glass, Niskayuna Glass will be able to secure more orders and create more jobs.
“The increase in the company’s production capabilities will allow Niskayuna Glass to meet our customer needs, assuring better lead times and continued quality control,” Maslanka said. “Current tempered glass lead times after fabrication can be up to 7-10 business days. This expansion will allow us to meet lead times of 1-3 business days.”
Niskayuna Glass has been the beneficiary of a home building resurgence throughout the Capital Region, as well as increased consumer awareness of the need for protection from severe weather. Impact glass such as tempered glass or insulating glass accounted for fifty percent of the company’s sales in 2013.
As part of the expansion project, Niskayuna Glass partnered with Monolith Solar Associates, LLC of Rensselaer, NY for the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Maxon Road facility creating green power for the new manufacturing line.
Niskayuna Glass currently has 16 full time employees and plans to create 5 new jobs by the end of 2015 and another 10 to 15 new jobs over the next three years.
National Grid is providing $50,000 for the expansion program through the company’s economic development program. The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority is providing a $25,000 grant. M&T Bank and Empire State Certified Development Corporation, an affiliate of the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) provided project financing.
Art Hamlin from National Grid said, “Our Capital Investment Incentive Program is designed to help growing companies like Niskayuna Glass to manage the capital cost of infrastructure, when seeking to increase production. We are happy to collaborate with Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority on the incentive package”.
Ray Gillen from Metroplex said, “We are very pleased to partner with National Grid to help fund infrastructure work that was needed to help Niskayuna Glass grow their business and create more jobs in Schenectady County.”