Techni-Tool
Inc. moves to higher ground
Manufacturer relocated to Trooper Road in Worcester
from Plymouth after 28 years
By Carl Rotenberg, The Times Herald
WORCESTER – An international tool distributor has reclaimed a 26-acre,
former toxic waste site for its new warehouse/corporate office and
moved 170 jobs to this rural township.
Techni-Tool, Inc. had operated the $50 million electronic tool business
from a 3.5 acre site in Plymouth Meeting for 28 years, said William
Kushner, Vice President of Operations for Techni-Tool.
The nearly $7 million, 112,000-square-foot facility at 1547 N. Trooper
Road was occupied over the July 4 weekend with operations continuing
on that Monday.
“This new building will allow Techni-Tool to grow and expand for
many years to come,” said Paul Weiss, President of Techni-Tool.
“It is our hope that the increased space and modern facility will
contribute to a more efficient and productive company.”
The company will be hiring in the outbound call-center, warehouse
and sales, Kushner said. “We’re on a hiring ramp up”, said Kushner.
“We need to hire 20 to 25 people”.
Techni-Tool sells individual tools, toolkits, electronic test equipment
and every accessory needed to build, repair and test a variety of
electronic equipment. More than 2 million, 338-page color catalogs
are mailed to customers each year in four quarterly mailings.
The client list includes Accu-Sort Systems Inc. of Telford, Montgomery
County Community College in Whitpain, Lockheed Martin Management
and Data Systems in Upper Merion and Kulick and Soffa of Willow
Grove.
Approval for construction on the former Transcoil Inc. industrial
facility site began nine years ago. The ground had been contaminated
when Transcoil stored waste oil and solvents in an underground tank.
Some of the solvents were poured into a septic system and other
solvents were poured out on the ground, according to the EPA.
Homes surrounding the site were protected over the years by being
connected to public water systems. More than 175 homes were hooked
up over the last seven years.
The new Techni-Tool plant becomes the number two employer in Worcester.
The Ford electronics plant is the number one employer in Worcester,
Kushner said.
At Techni-Tool, workers in the 28-foot high warehouse fill a UPS
tractor trailer each day with packages destined for corporate customers.
The company ships more than 1,000 packages a day. The business-to-business
company also has sales offices in Yatton, England, and Tempe, Ariz.
Ben Weiss, Chairman of the Board at Techni-Tool, started the business
in 1960 on Arch Street in Philadelphia. His three sons, Paul, Stuart
and Steven, now run the business.
Paul Weiss plans to lease the 5 Apollo Road facility this fall but
a deal has not yet been signed.
On Sunday, more than 600 guests toured the new building and watched
a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring John H. Graham, Vice Chairman
of the Worcester Board of Supervsiors.
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