advertisement

Manufacturer relocating U.S. headquarters to West Dundee

A German manufacturing company is moving forward with plans to relocate its U.S. headquarters to West Dundee's corporate park.

Helukabel is expected to begin construction this year on a 75,000-square-foot facility at 1201 Wesemann Drive, Community Development Director Tim Scott said. The company produces specialty cable and wire, such as those used in robotic equipment for automobiles and wind turbines.

Having outgrown the space it leases in Elgin, Helukabel has been eyeing a handful of potential sites that would accommodate its expansion, Scott said. After months of negotiations, company representatives finalized a deal with the Opus Development Co., developer of the village's Oakview Corporate Park.

"We're impressed by them, and I think they're really a neat company," Scott said. "We're certainly pleased that another well regarded international company with market-leading products has chosen the village."

Helukabel evaluated sites in Elgin, South Elgin and Bartlett, according to village documents. Hoping to lure the company to West Dundee, trustees in August agreed to reduce municipal development fees - such as building permit costs and impact fees - by 30 percent, capped at a $30,000 value.

The economic incentive, coupled with the village's timely inspection and approval process, helped West Dundee secure the project, Scott said. Construction is expected to be complete next year.

"There are a whole bunch of factors ... and the stars have to align just right," he said. "This proved to be a good fit. It created a nice win for the village."

About 10 percent of the new building will contain offices, while the rest will be used for warehouse and production purposes, said Michael Yungerman, vice president and general manager at Opus. The eight-acre property would also allow Helukabel to more than double the facility's size should its future growth require additional space, he said.

The company has about 20 employees and could grow to employ 40 to 50 people in its planned development, village documents show.

After Helukabel is built, the Oakview Corporate Park will have two to three lots remaining for light industrial companies and one property available for commercial use, Scott said. Other businesses in the park include Germany-based Oelheld and United Kingdom-based Renishaw.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.