{"id":6592,"date":"2012-02-28T15:13:20","date_gmt":"2012-02-28T20:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/?p=6592"},"modified":"2012-02-29T12:15:40","modified_gmt":"2012-02-29T17:15:40","slug":"nh-advantage-proves-true-for-albany-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/02\/28\/nh-advantage-proves-true-for-albany-international\/","title":{"rendered":"“NH Advantage” Proves True For Albany International"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo by Cindy Kibbe)<\/p>

"What turns out to make a big difference as we try to recruit young, talented engineers from around the country is the great quality of life around here," said Joseph Morone, President and CEO of Albany International.<\/p><\/div>\n

We hear about the \u201cNew Hampshire Advantage\u201d all the time. Our low personal taxes and great quality of life make headlines every time a company contemplates relocating to the Granite State.<\/p>\n

But what happens after<\/em> a company has been here for a while? Are company leaders still happy with their choice?<\/p>\n

For leadership at Rochester, NH-based Albany International<\/a>, the answer is an unequivocal \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Albany International has been a poster child of sorts for New Hampshire\u2019s brand of economic success. In 2010, it relocated its corporate headquarters from Albany, NY, to\u00a0 Rochester with plans to build a new manufacturing plant and hire hundreds of workers. Even Vice President Joseph Biden, who visited the company earlier this year<\/a>, hailed it as a prime example of public-private partnerships.<\/p>\n

The move here, however, was by no means certain. In addition to its existing Engineered Composites division in Rochester, Albany International also has plants in the pro-business states of Texas and South Carolina, either one of which could have been the company\u2019s new home.<\/p>\n

Proximity matters<\/h3>\n

Albany Engineered Composites developed some very novel technology for weaving and molding carbon fibers into very light, very strong fan blades for jet engines based on a similar process that has its roots in\u00a0the belts the company uses for paper production at its Paper Maching Clothing division \u2013 a technology that is going to be very much in demand, very soon.<\/p>\n

According to Joseph Morone, Albany International president and CEO, a joint venture between General Electric and Snecma, called CFM International<\/a>, has the lion\u2019s share of the market for engines for the largest segment of commercial airplane market — the so-called \u201csingle-aisle aircraft.\u201d Albany International builds parts for Snecma<\/a>, an affiliate of multibillion-dollar French aerospace company Safran<\/a>. Albany and SNECMA\/Safran will be \u201croommates\u201d in Rochester, sharing a production facility.\u00a0See where this is going?<\/p>\n

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(Photo by Cindy Kibbe)<\/p>

Albany International's Engineered Composites plant in Rochester, N.H.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cProximity really matters when you\u2019re talking about developing technology,\u201d said Morone.<\/p>\n

That intention was all well and good, but Morone said he and Albany International leadership had to convince the shareholders a big move to this little state would be worth their while.<\/p>\n

One of the keys cinching the deal, he said, was the personal interest the state\u2019s leaders took in working out a deal with Albany International \u2013 namely the help of Gov. John Lynch and George Bald, commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say enough about the governor,\u201d said Morone. \u201cEach time we ran into trouble, he jumped in personally and actively, and made sure this got done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jobs now and later<\/h3>\n

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