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Date: 1/18/2023
CHICOPEE – The former 152,000 square-foot Leoni Wire location on 301 Griffith Rd. remains vacant after the German manufacturer suddenly shuttered their services in February 2021. Now, a truss maker is in consideration to open their business at the former Leoni Wire location.
Leoni Wire is a global provider of productions and services in a variety of manufacturing industries. Based in Nuremberg, Germany, the company features factories with a production cycle that encompassed wires, optical fibers, standardized cables, special cables and assembled systems.
Leoni Wire Communications Manager Gregor le Claire discussed the closing and its impacts on the company. According to le Claire, a central factor in the factory’s closing is Leoni’s desire to consolidate the company and focus more on supplying wiring systems for automotive vehicles rather than their previously extensive output of other products.
“Leoni wants to strategically focus on consolidating its leading position as a supplier of wiring systems for the automotive industry. Against this backdrop, the company has already sold several non-automotive units in 2021,” said le Claire in a February 2021 interview with Reminder Publishing. Several Leoni facilities in the United States and Europe ceased operations alongside the Chicopee location.
The departure of Leoni Wire led to the loss of approximately 80 jobs. Before closing, Leoni Wire celebrated 30 years of service in Chicopee in October 2021.
In December 2022, a new opportunity materialized for the vacant structure. The Boston-based organization Griffith Road Property Owner LLC purchased the property for $8.5 million on Dec. 13, 2022, according to the Hampden County Registry of Deeds.
Along with their purchase, Griffith Road Property is applying for a zoning variance of the space to create more outdoor storage opportunities. If the variance is accepted and the owner moves forward with their development, the new operation expects to create around 100 jobs in Chicopee.
The property owner announced their intentions in the deed to develop the space as a truss creator. Truss makers gather pre-cut wood parts and use them to build wall sections, or trusses, that support various construction projects.
Mayor John Vieau said the departure of Leoni Wire happened suddenly last year. He views the potential of a truss maker operating in the vacant space as a promising opportunity for the city.
“When one company leaves, it creates an opportunity for another company to come to Chicopee,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Vieau expressed his support for Griffith Road Property’s intentions for the property. He viewed their possible move to Chicopee as a crucial source for job creation.
“Having a truss company come here means they will provide living-wage jobs … I think this is wonderful for Chicopee,” said Vieau.
Vieau also stressed that planned renovations for the former Leoni Wire space will help the city’s tax base.