Prefab company may offer 150 jobs at Baileyville plan

A new manufacturing business, ICS of Maine, will open by the end of the year in the Baileyville Industrial Park. Owned by Insulated Component Structures Inc. of Florida, it will make cost-effective, high-quality, energy-efficient and easy-to-assemble building panels as alternatives to conventional building methods.

"We're extremely excited about having ICS of Maine locate here," says Baileyville Town Manager Scott Harriman, who adds that the town has been in talks with ICS since the end of 2006. "It will create 75 to 150 jobs."

"People are obviously calling about work," says Harriman. "They seem to be excited."

Damar Dore, president of ICS of Maine, cannot say enough good things about its parent company. "I visited the Florida plant. I talked to all of the partners. I could see how much use there is for this product in northern climates, so I asked to do a joint venture with them and buy a franchise license. One thing led to another. I guess I showed enough enthusiasm for the product to excite them."

"I was impressed by all of the certifications and testing done on the product  all that's crucial for making a product superior to everyone else's," he adds. "A lot of companies don't do that because of the expense. A minimum test on the structural strength of a panel costs $10,000."

ICS is an Energy Star rated company, as determined by the Department of Energy, as well as a partner in the Rebuild America program. Dore says house designs by ICS of Maine are not only beautiful but practical and economical, too. "Look at the speed and ease of putting these buildings together. Take out the labor portion, and you save money. These [buildings] help save energy, so your money comes back to you. The price fluctuates on the finish. It's up to the owner to decide."

Job positions at the Baileyville will include light manufacturing line work and administrative posts. "While the building is being built, the primary crew, from 10 to 20, is to be sent off to be trained [in Florida]," reports Dore. "We want hard-working, dedicated employees who can be versatile. We will train them in all positions."

Most of the raw materials will be shipped in to the Baileyville plant.

Harriman notes that, even with the addition of ICS of Maine's 57,000-square-foot building, "there's still plenty of room in the industrial park."