JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — Off-road tire and track specialist Camso Ltd. plans to open a plant in Junction City for making tracks and track systems for agriculture and construction applications.
The 139,000-sq.-ft. facility will complement an existing track business plant in Emporia, Kan., and help the Magog, Quebec-based company "deliver on the increasing demand of our agriculture and construction track products," according to Hugues Lajoie, vice president and general manager – agriculture at Camso.
Camso is budgeting $36.4 million for the project, which involves converting an existing structure to a manufacturing facility. The new plant will focus on agricultural tracks for many farming applications and construction tracks for compact track loaders.
Junction City is a strategic location for Camso due to its proximity to its existing manufacturing plant in Emporia, about 75 miles southeast of Junction City, as well as being close to a central transportation hub.
The new location will allow for a "strong collaboration" between the two plants to produce and deliver quality products, Mr. Lajoie said.
The new plant is expected to create 35 jobs when it opens in January 2020.
Camso markets its tracks and track systems both to the OEM and replacement markets.
According to local news reports in Kansas, the Junction City commission authorized the issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds valued at up to $40 million for the project.
The issuance of such bonds would provide Camso a property tax exemption for 10 years by locking in the 2017 property tax rate, and would make the firm eligible for a sales tax exemption on equipment purchased.
The commission also approved employment-based financial incentives, and the city agreed to upgrade an access road and waterline.