Blairsville manufacturer looking to add 20-30 jobs

While other industries are feeling the impact of the nation´s recession and Sony Corp. is planning to close its Westmoreland County TV production plant, Indiana County´s Dlubak Corp. is flourishing and looking to expand, with contracts in place to produce specialty glass for the defense and security industries.

The Blairsville manufacturer also has in place a new three-year extension of its contract with United Steelworkers Local 1537-06, covering 250 employees through December 2012.

Hoon Kim, project manager, said Dlubak has "hired a couple of extra personnel in production" and is looking to add 20 to 30 more people to its workforce, with some new security-related contracts adding to production demands. "We´re running three full shifts, seven days a week," he said.

Hoon said the company has benefited from a job-training program. That program was provided through a $270,000 grant, with the goal of creating 60 jobs.

"Our relationship with our union is stronger and better," Hoon said, noting, "It´s a joint effort to meet our production needs as well as promoting the stability and well-being of our employees for our future."

Dlubak and the union last settled on a contract in June 2007, following a three-day strike.

Bill Suman, local union president, said the new contract extension was approved by "a pretty good majority" in a Saturday vote by members. "Everybody´s pretty happy with it," he said.

The contract maintains existing hospitalization benefits and profit-sharing for employees, he said. Other terms of the agreement weren´t disclosed.

Suman said Dlubak is looking to hire laborers as well as some skilled workers. Defense contracts are primarily what is keeping the plant so busy, he said. "That is our bread and butter."

The company´s products include replacement bullet-proof windshields and side windows that are used to enhance protection for troops riding in Humvee vehicles.

Suman noted the Blairsville plant also turns out security glass for embassies as well as glass for architectural projects, showroom windows and deli cases.