New Jersey-based Norwalt originally expanded to the Tampa market in 2022 and is now expanding into a new 28,000-square-foot space with plans for an additional 20 jobs
Tampa, Fla. (December 19, 2024) – Two years after announcing its expansion to the Tampa market, New Jersey-based manufacturer Norwalt is expanding its presence in Hillsborough County with a 28,000-square-foot facility and plans to create 20 more jobs over the next three years in roles such as electrical and mechanical engineers, programmers and technicians.
When Norwalt originally expanded to the area, it leased 10,000 square feet of space from local beverage company Cirkul, one of Norwalt’s longtime customers, but investing in a property of its own was always in the plans. With a 30% increase in staff over the last two years, those plans have come to fruition with Norwalt leasing 28,000 square feet at the Crossroads Logistics Park.
“Our expansion to Tampa has far exceeded our expectations,” said Mike Seitel, CEO of Norwalt. “The quality of talent we’ve found in Tampa has been incredible and has helped us accelerate our growth plans. Tampa has been an excellent choice for us and we look forward to continuing to grow our company in this market.”
Founded in 1971, Norwalt has grown to become the preferred and trusted resource for elite automation machinery worldwide. Norwalt provides custom machinery solutions across a number of industries including medical devices, food and beverage, personal and household, and telecommunications. Norwalt’s services include design, build, technical support, and on-site training for their machines.
For this expansion, the Tampa Bay EDC worked with Norwalt and TECO to address the company’s power needs to meet its opening deadline. The Tampa Bay EDC also connected Norwalt to the state’s Quick Response Training Grant to support its growing workforce.
The last 5 years have been a period of growth for the local manufacturing sector. According to JobsEQ, the Tampa MSA boasts the second highest employment in the manufacturing industry in the state of Florida and ranks 30th in the nation. Compared to other Florida metros, Tampa accounts for 18% of the total manufacturing employment share in the state. Over the past five years, Tampa’s manufacturing employment grew by 12.2%. Due to this job demand, between 2018 and 2022, 370 manufacturing businesses entered the Tampa metro area.
“We always love to hear when a company that expanded here from another market has found so much success that they continue to invest in our community and create more jobs,” said Ron Christaldi, chair of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council and Shumaker Partner/President and CEO of Shumaker Advisors Florida. “Norwalt has been an excellent addition to the Tampa area’s manufacturing sector, and the Tampa Bay EDC team looks forward to continuing to support the company’s growth here.”
About the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to advance a diversified local economy that is beneficial to all by attracting, expanding and retaining quality employers, a talented workforce and investment, focusing within targeted industry sectors, including Corporate Headquarters, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Defense and Security, Distribution and Logistics, and Manufacturing. The EDC exists because of the generous support of more than 100 corporations, Hillsborough County, and the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace. For more information, visit www.tampabayedc.com.
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