More Good Economic News For Youngstown

[Towntalk]

A Youngstown manufacturer has partnered with a Texas-based company to supply parts to the oil and natural gas industry.
Equipment designed by Houston-based Valerus will now be produced by Brilex Industries in Youngstown. The equipment is used at gas well sites and processing facilities. Alex Benyo with Brilex Industries said the partnership is a good move for his business and the local economy.
"It's a great win, win. It brings stability to our people. It brings stability to the economy," said Benyo.
Valerus supplies products such as filters and separators to the oil and gas industry, and when the Marcellus and Utica shale plays started taking off, Valerus CEO Pete Lane said the company wanted to be at the center of the action
"Youngstown was strategically well positioned to service not only just the Utica and Marcellus, but the Balkon in North Dakota," said Lane. "This is a large multi-generational resource. The economics of the initial development are working very well for customers is what we hear. My guess is the oil field will be here for a long time."
Brilex Industries will focus on producing high pressure horizontal coalescing filters that have been tailored to meet the requirements for the Marcellus and Utica shale. Brilex will also produce separators, re-generators and absorber towers, according Valerus's website.
Brilex has hired 10 new employees with an expected total of 30 new hires by next year.
"Both companies merging together and creating a joint venture here, we're able to hit the market quickly, so we're able to start servicing the market quickly," said Sajatovic Valerus, Brilex's Vice President of Manufacturing.