Manroy makes for 'good day'

By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel
Published July 10, 2009

Manroy USA joined Jackson County's industrial community Thursday with an announcement ceremony at its facility in the Scottsboro Industrial Park.

The company, in partnership with Manroy Engineering Ltd., supplies the global defense industry. It is well-known for manufacturing machine guns, mounts and associated products.

"It's a good day in Scottsboro and Jackson County anytime we can welcome a new industry," Jackson County Economic Development Authority President Dus Rogers said. "It is great news and we are excited about Manroy locating in Scottsboro."

The company chose Jackson County over potential sites in Limestone and Madison counties and a number of other sites around the southeast.

"We are pleased to be in Scottsboro," Steve Sarles, General Manager of the facility said. "When our owner saw this building (15,000 square feet former API location) he said I want to be in Jackson County."

Company representatives also toured the two speculative buildings in the Jackson County Industrial Park at Hollywood and other available buildings in the area.

"Those speculative buildings are advertising Scottsboro and Jackson County," Scottsboro Mayor Melton Potter said in welcoming Sarles and the Manroy team. "Every day those buildings are working for Jackson County."

Manroy has acquired Defcon 1 Manufacturing, a Scottsboro based company, that provides precision machining services.

Manroy obtained the production assets of Defcon 1 and its team of highly skilled manufacturing personnel. The company will begin hiring additional administrative and technical workers in the near future. Applications can be completed on the company's website at www.manroy-usa.com, by visiting Defcon 1 at its location on Bob Jones Road or by stopping by the Manroy facility in the Scottsboro Industrial Park after its office staff is in place in approximately two weeks.

Great Britian based Manroy Engineering, Ltd. has been supplying the British Military of Defense and more than 80 countries around the globe with weapons, mounts, spare parts and accessories for 30 years.

Manroy USA, which is owned by Ibis Tek, will partner with the British based company to market and assist in the manufacture of its products.

Ibis Tek is a veteran-owned small business specializing in products and accessories critical to the defense industry and other state and federal agencies. The Pennsylvania-based company, provides military and commercial products, offers robotic solutions for unmanned ground vehicles and specialized products for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles used by rapid responders.

The local company will be deeply involved in precision machining. "It's a fairly wide scope (of manufacturing) we're looking at," Sarles said of the Scottsboro operation.

"Jackson County, and Scottsboro, in particular was chosen since it provided the assistance, cooperation and a skilled workforce from which to grow the company," a press release from Manroy USA said.

"We're grateful to the community for the outreach they've given us. We look forward to being here," Sarles said. "We will provide job opportunities to the community."

"For many years I've wanted to see a defense industry come to Scottsboro," Jackson County Commission Chairperson Sadie Bias said. "We welcome you with open arms."

Representatives were in attendance from the Alabama Development Office, AIDT, Alabama Technology Network, Senatos Richard Shelby and Senator Jeff Sessions' offices and U.S. Congressman Parker Griffith's office. State Representatives John Robinson and Butch Taylor were also in attendance as were members of the JCEDA and the Scottsboro Industrial Development Board.