KENDALLVILLE - Johnson Controls Interior Manufacturing (JCIM), located in the former Plastech plant it had purchased in the East Industrial Park, announced Friday an equipment expansion that will add 15 new manufacturing jobs to its 220-employee workforce.

Friday morning, the Redevelopment Commission (RDC) voted to recommend 10 years of tax abatement for JCIM on $475,641 of new equipment for the plant at 300 S. Progress Drive.

The company manufactures plastic injection molded parts for the automotive industry. Dale Greer, the plant manager, said the company is installing a more efficient central feed system to stay competitive. "The complexity is going up," he commented. "We brought in work from other plants, and there's lots of work still out there."

The new equipment should be installed by the end of the year, according to JCIM's tax abatement application.

Plastech had laid off workers before declaring bankruptcy amid the downturn in the economy and the automotive industry. When JCIM purchased the company, it closed 25 of the 38 plants around the country. Greer explained due to the work ethic of the Kendallville plant's employees, its location and the cooperation from city officials, he convinced JCIM that the Kendallville plant was a "growth spot" and to keep it open.

Laid-off employees were called back, and the new equipment will increase the workforce. Twelve of the 15 new jobs will pay about $12 an hour.

The plant became unionized this year, according to JCIM's tax abatement application.

Over the 10-year abatement period, JCIM will save about $23,115 in taxes while paying about $15,520 in taxes based on 2010 tax rates.

RDC members also voted to recommend 10 years of abatement on an estimated $14.5 million of new equipment for Courier Kendallville, Inc. Courier plans to add a fourth four-color Roland printing press to its textbook and special trade book manufacturing plant at 2500 Marion Drive.

Courier will add 80 new jobs to its 631-employee workforce.

Thursday the Economic Development Advisory Committee recommended 10 years of abatement on real estate for Courier's 50,000-square-foot addition to its 200,000-square-foot warehouse at 3094 Lester Drive. The company anticipates the new press will be installed by January, and the warehouse addition will be completed by December.

Courier will save an estimated $991,864 in taxes over the 10-year period of both tax abatements while paying an estimated $766,142 in taxes based on 2010 tax rates.

City Council Tuesday night is scheduled to consider the RDC and the EDAC tax abatement recommendations.