Okay Industries To Open New Plant In Town

After a century of success in New Britain, Okay Industries, Inc. reaffirmed its commitment to Connecticut today with the announcement of a major new facility in Berlin. The company is developing a 63,000-square-foot medical engineering and manufacturing plant on New Park Drive in Berlin to consolidate and grow its medical components business. The new space will complement Okay’s current 100,000 square-foot headquarters location on Ellis Street in New Britain.

Okay is also celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. The company will be marking the event with a celebration at its new location for employees, local businesses, government officials and media in the spring.

“You can’t run a successful business for 100 years without a talented team of employees and a business infrastructure behind you,” said Jason Howey, Okay’s President. “We’re committed to Connecticut, to our long-term employees and to our business partners here who help us build vital components for companies around the world. Smart companies know that you can’t beat the quality  Connecticut’s people can deliver.”

Okay is the succesor company to B. Jahn Manufacturing Company, a tool and die company formed in 1911, and has been a manufacturing mainstay in New Britain ever since. Today the company engineers and manufactures stamped metal components, machined parts, and automated mechanical and laser-welded sub-assemblies for medical, automotive, industrial and defense/firearms customers.

Okay employs more than 200 people, with employment levels expected to grow when the new Connecticut facility becomes fully operational in 2012.

“We are thrilled to have Okay bring its world-class engineering and manufacturing to Berlin,” said Adam Salina, mayor of Berlin. “Their ability to grow in Connecticut is a great example of what our communities can offer companies that need a skilled workforce and great standard of living.”

The challenging economic realities of recent years have not stopped Okay’s growth. Despite an overall manufacturing slowdown, Okay has experienced double-digit sales increases over the past several years.

“We listen to our customers and we listen to our employees to help guide our decisions. That keeps us focused on market needs and the best ways to use our skills to meet those needs,” said Donna Lasher, Okay’s Vice President and a Berlin resident. “As we continue to grow in Connecticut, we’re fortunate to have long-term employees on board who are poised to help train the next generation of manufacturing experts who will power our future.”

“Okay is an outstanding corporate citizen to New Britain and the region,” said New Britain mayor Tim O’Brien. “We look forward to watching their continued growth here in New Britain and with our good neighbors in Berlin. I’m confident that 100 years from now New Britain’s mayor will be wishing them a Happy 200th Anniversary.”

Salina said the annaoncements made recently for development in town are just the beginning.

"I said often at the end of last year that 2012 would be a prosperous year for Berlin," he said. "In a short time we have been awarded a $500,000 Brownfields Grant, a $500,000 STEAP Grant, introduced the renovation of the KGS Building and now we welcome OKAY to Berlin. This has been an outstanding beginning to the year with more announcements on the way."