California manufacturer opening $9.1M facility in Fluvanna

Stewart Tool Co. Inc., a California-based prototype-to-production manufacturer, will invest $9.1 million to establish its first East Coast manufacturing operation in Fluvanna County, creating 22 jobs.

The company plans to renovate the former Kloeckner Metals facility in Fluvanna’s Troy area.

“We were looking for a location close to the East Coast operations of our major customers, and we selected Virginia in part because it was one of the top states for business,” said Amber Stewart, company president, in a statement. “We are confident that Fluvanna County is the right place for our manufacturing facility.”

A family owned-and-operated business, Stewart Tool Co. designs and manufactures pressure vessels, working to the specifications of government and international customers, in addition to offering quick-turn prototyping, computer numerical control (CNC) and manual machining, welding and fabrication, engineering and design of parts and product testing. The company also serves clients in need of pump repair and rebuilds for shipboard pumps, high pressure pumps, turbines, as well as pumps for propoline, butane, methane, propane and liquefied natural gas.

Stewart Tool Co. is eligible to receive up to a total of $19,800 from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, a performance-based incentive offered through the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, according to Suzanne Clark, VEDP spokeswoman. Virginia Career Works-Piedmont Region will help Stewart Tool Co. with recruiting.