Initially, the Fairfield facility will have 25 to 30 people, said Bill O’Gara, CEO of The O’Gara Group.
“If all goes well in the next 12 months, 75 to 100 people,” O’Gara said.
The O’Gara Group said in a statement it has no plans to relocate the operations or employees of the acquired company, San Antonio, Texas-based Protection Devices Inc.
Protection Devices is one of five suppliers under contract with the U.S. Department of State to provide armored vehicles to protect diplomatic personnel worldwide, according to the O’Gara Group. BAE Systems, which has an operation in West Chester Twp., is also one of the five suppliers.
Fairfield Mayor Ron D’Epifanio welcomed the news.
“Anytime we can attract any kind of business, we’re ecstatic,” he said. “We’re committed to being business friendly, and we welcome all the new businesses we can possibly get.”
Rod MacEachen, first vice president of CB Richard Ellis, Industrial Properties, said the O’Gara Group signed a one-year lease Jan. 1 for 36,109-square-feet at 310 Osborne Drive. The building has been vacant eight months and was formerly occupied by BAE, according to MacEachen.
Ironically, O’Gara owned an armored vehicle business that was sold in 2001 to Armored Holdings. Armored Holdings was later bought by BAE Systems, O’Gara said.
O’Gara had a five-year, non-compete agreement that expired in about 2007, and it was looking to go back in the armored business, he said.
“At this point in time, we think the conditions are right,” he said.
He said nobody’s emerged as a market leader in armored vehicles. And O’Gara has a reputation in the business.
“We essentially have a built in base of employees,” he said. “We feel we can compete effectively with BAE.”
BAE, which builds a variety of component systems for the military and armor commercial vehicles for the military and for VIPs, celebrities and dignitaries., has cut more than 800 employees in West Chester Twp. in 2010 and 2011, according to the company and reported layoff information. The company said at the time of layoffs, it was forced to cut jobs due to the loss of key contracts, the economic climate and to stay competitive.
BAE’s West Chester Twp. operations are now part of the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Product Line with other locations in Michigan, Texas and South Africa.
Staff Writer Eric Robinette contributed to this story. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.
About the Author