Firm plans to move North American operations to Alta Vista

Rick Shrum
Observer Reporter


Nearly two months after the first ceremonial groundbreaking at Alta Vista Business Park in five years, word came down that another company will build there.

Mon Valley Alliance and Apex International announced in a news release Monday afternoon the purchase of Lot 12 of the park in Fallowfield Township, located a short distance off Interstate 70.

Apex North America, a division of Apex International, plans to build its new North America operations facility there. Apex International is a global leader in anilox, glue set and metering products, plus print maintenance solutions.

The North American operations are currently in Donora Industrial Park.

Apex plans to build a facility with more than 100,000 square feet on a 12.95-acre site. The structure is expected to include corporate offices, manufacturing space and a research and development division.

Work is targeted to begin in mid-2019 with a 2020 completion. More than 70 are expected to be employed there, with space for growth.

According to the news release, Apex chose Alta Vista for its access to I-70, I-79 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike; for having a shovel-ready location designated a Keystone Opportunity Zone; and a regional manufacturing-based workforce.

“The new facility will help introduce Apex to new parts of the Mon Valley as an employer of choice, while also providing the expanded capacity we need to deliver a world-class customer experience,” Josh Scalise, Apex production manager, said in a prepared statement.

Chris Whitlatch, chief executive officer of MVA, which oversees park operations, said in a statement: “We look forward to working with the company as they continue to grow in this new regional headquarters, providing jobs and economic activity for our region.”

Alta Vista has 50 additional acres of pad-ready sites available for development.

On Oct. 18, Nine Energy Service, a Houston, Texas-based oil and gas company, broke ground on a new regional headquarters. Nine Energy has outgrown its office in Chartiers Township, near the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.