Emerson to launch $100 million expansion, renovation of Sidney facility

Emerson on Thursday will announce plans for a $100 million renovation and expansion of labs and offices in its 1-million-square-foot facility in Sidney.

The project, the details of which were released exclusively to this news organization Wednesday night, is expected to require $100 million in investments during the next four years.

Emerson, based on St. Louis, will break ground this month on the first phase of construction, which will include:

• Building a two-story office addition onto the current facility
• Converting existing space to new and expanded engineering laboratories.

Officials, in a prepared statement, said with a focus on creating an environment to attract tomorrow's engineers, scientists and industry leaders, the renovated facility will facilitate cross-functional collaboration and provide an efficient, modern workplace.

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A highlight of the project will be an upgraded, cutting-edge lab space to conduct advanced performance and refrigerant testing with its compressors and related products.

"Emerson is committed to growing our global leadership position in the heating and cooling industry. To do that we need best-in-class facilities that provide our current employees a cutting-edge space to continue their critical work and that help us attract the next generation of engineers and scientists," said Bob Sharp, executive president for Emerson's Commercial and Residential Solutions business.

"These facility improvements will enable us to develop next-level technology and solutions to meet our customers' future needs."

The new construction projects in Sidney come one year after Emerson opened its Helix Innovation Center on the University of Dayton campus.

RELATED: Emerson plans expansion work

The Helix Innovation Center is an industry-first effort funded by Emerson to spur research, collaboration and education across the heating and cooling manufacturing industries (also known as the HVACR industry).

SEE MORE: Read about the Helix Innovation Center at UD

Sidney since 1937 has been home of Emerson's world-renowned Copeland™ compressors for air conditioning and refrigeration. The Sidney location serves as the company's headquarters in the Americas for compressor technology and manufacturing.

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The renovated facility will enable engineers to conduct research, development and testing to develop technologies for compressors, in addition to manufacturing Copeland Scroll™ compressors, which are found inside air conditioning systems for homes and commercial buildings, and in refrigeration systems at retailers, restaurants and other institutions worldwide.

Globally, Emerson has produced 150 million Copeland Scroll compressors and invested $1.5 billion in development of the technology.

Construction of the new Emerson facilities in Sidney is being financed by a capital lease agreement with the Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority.

The project has also received support from JobsOhio, Shelby County and the city of Sidney.

Construction is scheduled to be completed by 2021.