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Michigan City faucet manufacturer expanding
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1 hour ago • Stan Maddux Times Correspondent

MICHIGAN CITY | A Michigan City manufacturing company is expanding, a decision that will retain and create jobs.

The Chicago Faucet Co. is adding new productuction lines at its facility at 1100 Boone Drive near U.S. 421 and U.S. 20.

The decision was announced when the city council Tuesday night approved a tax abatement that will save the firm about $93,000, officials said.

"This is another great example of companies that continue to do well in Michigan City and are committed to grow and expand in our community," Mayor Ron Meer said.

According to company officials, Chicago Faucet Co. is a leading manufacturer of faucets and other plumbing fixtures sine 1901 and is among just a handful of businesses that still make permanent mold, yellow brass castings in the United States.

The company also makes ECAST faucets, a line of durable, high-quality faucets and fittings containing, on average, 0.25 percent or less total weighted lead content.

The expansion will allow the company to add two new electronic faucet lines, expand the scope of its services and eventually have a modern, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, officials said.

Officials say the work projected to be finished in the fall will create four additional jobs and preserve its existing workforce of 74.

Eric Franklin, general manager of the company's plant in Michigan City, said the decision to expand here was an easy one.

"We strive to manufacture quality products at the lowest possible cost to our company and our customers," he said.

The company's financial investment was not disclosed.

The company is owned by The Geberit Group, a 125-year-old company headquartered in Jona, Switzerland, a European market leader and global provider of plumbing technology, according to company officials.

The Geberit Group has about 6,000 employees worldwide.