FORKS TWP., Pa.- A major manufacturing company in the Lehigh Valley is looking to beef up its ranks.
Victaulic, the Forks Township-based manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining solutions and other products, has more than 80 openings spread across its three locations in the Lehigh Valley.
The greatest need is at the company’s main facility at 4901 Kesslersville Road, where there are 69 open positions including electricians, millwrights and finishing processors. There are currently 300 workers on the payroll there.
Victaulic’s manufacturing facility at 157 Commerce Park Drive in Lower Nazareth Township, which currently employs 206 people, has a dozen openings for laborers.
And finally, its foundry at 8023 Quarry Road in Lower Macungie has three open maintenance technician positions. There are currently 106 employees there.
Victaulic is in the midst of an advertising campaign to get the word out about the available positions, Industrial Relations Office Manager Valerie Haddad told 69 News. That campaign includes everything from mailers to billboards to ads on buses.
Victaulic is in the midst of an advertising campaign with the goal of filling several open positions.
One of the reasons for the high number of job openings is Victaulic making a push to increase its manufacturing output. “We’re selling products to stadiums and big buildings now,” Haddad said. “With manufacturing and everything growing, we’re growing as well.”
Learn more about Victaulic’s career opportunities here.
Manufacturing is the lifeblood of the Lehigh Valley economy, contributing $9 billion to the local Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to figures from the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).
With 37,000 jobs at 700 different makers, the Lehigh Valley has the 55th largest manufacturing market in the U.S., LVEDC said.
69 News checked in with some of the region’s other big names in manufacturing to see if they’re currently hiring.
Crayola, maker of crayons, markers and a slew of other products, has three Lehigh Valley manufacturing facilities: two in Forks Township, where the company is based, and another in Bethlehem Township.
A company spokesperson said, while Crayola is not experiencing major vacancies in its general manufacturing operations, there are six open technical positions that have yet to be filled. These positions are not entry level and require mechanical and / or electrical schooling or experience. More information can be found here.
Crayola does sometimes offer apprenticeship programs to manufacturing employees who want to learn a new skill set, the spokesperson said.
Mack Trucks told 69 News it doesn’t have any current openings at its plant in Lower Macungie Township, known as LVO. A company spokesperson said, historically, the truck maker has not had trouble finding applicants for open positions at the plant; however, the company sometimes does not receive applicants that are qualified for the role.
Martin Guitar and B. Braun did not respond to inquiries from 69 News. Just Born declined to participate. Freshpet is advertising a handful of open manufacturing jobs at its facility in Hanover Township, Northampton County, including production operators.