Belimo To Double Size/Workforce with Danbury Expansion

Belimo Air Controls, a Swiss company with a manufacturing site on Old Ridgebury Road, agreed to double its Danbury facility and workforce with construction of a new plant to start in the fall.

The deal is contingent on the city approving a site plan for a new factory on Turner Road, which is off Saw Mill Road at I-84's Exit 1. The new factory will replace the dilapidated and abandoned former Novo Nordisk factory on Turner Road. The old Turner Road facility has been closed for more than 15 years.

"They will have no problem with the permits," said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. The city's approval process for manufacturing plants also puts this project at the "top of the pile" for other approvals.

John Coppola, chief financial officer with Belimo, said Belimo has been growing in Danbury for 24 years, and the company agreed to expand again in Danbury because of the high quality of its 250 employees. The city also agreed to give the company a tax deferral on the new factory for seven years.

"This is right in the sweet spot for what we want to do in Danbury," said Bruce Tuomala, economic development director. "We want to keep what we have and grow what we have."

Belimo grew from its humble garage roots into what used to be the Medallic Arts building on Old Ridgebury Road. Belimo expanded the old Medallic Arts building twice since then. Belimo makes controls for air and water systems in buildings.

Once Danbury issues the site plan approval, perhaps as early as May, Belimo will schedule a closing on the $8 million purchase of the former Novo building, Coppola said.

Coppola said the entire project could take seven years, because in addition to more than doubling the building (86,000-square-feet to 200,000-square-feet) the workforce will also double or more than double.

"It will take five to seven years for it to reach full employment," Coppola said. "The building is being designed with future expansion in mind."

"This is another example of Danbury's advantage for corporate expansion and growth. This is why Danbury is attractive," said Stephen Bull, president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. The company is staying to keep its quality workforce.

Boughton said the existing Novo building is worthless, with a tree growing inside. He said it is generating very little tax revenue today, so giving Belimo a seven-year tax break isn't really costing the city much money at all. Novo will pay the land taxes once it buys the 34 acres.

"It's a wash for the taxpayers," Boughton said.