Roots growing deeper for two firms

The Tribune-Democrat

August 20, 2008 11:57 am

— Kongsberg Defense and PBS Coals Corp. had great economic news for our region last week, with the bottom lines tied to more jobs. Here’s what happened:
Kongsberg unveiled its new – and unusually spacious – manufacturing facility in Richland Township with its vice president of operations, Greg Platt, noting:
“We’ve sized this facility for growth. We’re ready to grow from an infrastructure standpoint. It’s really the result of planning from a long-term perspective rather than planning for short-term needs.”
We take that to mean: We expect to be here for the long haul and to grow.
And in Friedens, Somerset County, PBS Coals announced an initial public offering on the Toronto Securities Exchange with an eye toward expansion, renovation and the hiring of 165 additional workers.
With a rebounding coal industry, PBS has made no bones about the fact it intends to be a part of that as it expands two deep mines and renovates a coal-cleaning facility.
With the public offering, industry analysts speculate the mining company could see a capital infusion of nearly $300 million. That could allow for a lot of growth.
Kongsberg and PBS both have a history of providing family-sustaining employment with good benefits. We wish them and their employees every success as they move forward with an eye toward expansion.