Victaulic, a manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining solutions, plans to build an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing center in Lehigh Valley, Pa. The 400,000 ft² facility is expected to break ground later this year and be fully operational in 2019.

In addition to housing the company's current light assembly operation, the center will include several millions of dollars in new equipment to modernize its manufacturing operations. Robotic and optical technology will advance the limits of quality control for the company's castings and finished products through automated assembly operations. Use of computerized, visual inspection systems can identify nonconformities, preventing them from being shipped to customers.

Along with the expansion, Victaulic anticipates adding 40-50 new jobs by the end of 2018. Many of the new positions – from machining and lab technicians to assemblers and production staff – will be filled by local talent from the area's skilled workforce.