DeWITT — Central New York’s sensor and instrumentation sector is “strong” and “growing.”

Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, made the comment in his remarks during the ceremony that formally launched construction on an expansion project at Inficon, Inc. in DeWitt.

“The work that Inficon does to connect us to the global economy is amongst the best examples we have in this region of companies who understand their place in that economy,” Simpson said.

Nearly 80 percent of the products that Inficon manufactures in DeWitt are sold elsewhere in the world. 

Simpson called that statistic “a remarkable thing.”

He spoke on Sept. 23 as Inficon formally started its $20 million, 64,000-square-foot building expansion with a ceremony outside its facility in DeWitt.

The expansion will create 40 new jobs and help to retain the 240 existing jobs at its location at Two Technology Place, just off Fly Road.

“Construction is starting now and will continue throughout next year. We will move into the new space in the winter of 2015-2016,” Peter Maier, company president, said in his remarks during the ceremony.

The Switzerland–based technology firm provides sensor technologies, advanced process-control software, gas analyzers, leak detectors, and portable chemical-identification systems.

“Our technology is used in the production process in making the chips for the very latest generation of smartphones,” said Maier.

The firm’s technology also supports the protection of the environment and helps to keep people safe from “harmful effects” of chemicals, he contended.

Inficon currently employs 250 people in DeWitt in a plant that generates $140 million in annual sales, according to Maier.

Inficon, which has operated in Central New York for nearly half a century, is near capacity in its current 30 year-old building, according to a news release the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo distributed on Tuesday. 

The expansion will become part of the company’s existing 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.

“The facility will not just add space but will also allow us to become more flexible and efficient, and that in turn, will improve our global competitiveness,” said Maier.

The project is described as “the first part of a multi-phase expansion plan” that will enable Inficon to “grow and improve” sales and exports, Cuomo’s office said.

New York is providing Inficon with a $1 million grant and $1.5 million in Empire State Development’s performance-based Excelsior Jobs program tax credits, which are tied directly to job-creation commitments and were critical in the company expanding in Central New York versus other global locations, according to Cuomo’s office. 

The Central New York regional economic-development council identified the Inficon expansion project as a “regional priority,” as it aligns with the council’s plan for economic growth by attracting investment in the high-tech industry, according to Cuomo’s office.

Inficon is headquartered in Switzerland and has manufacturing facilities in the U.S, Europe, and China, along with subsidiaries in China, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the U.S. 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com