The former Sony site in East Huntingdon once hummed with television production; today, it is finding new life as a high-tech anchor thanks to a $6 million expansion by electronics manufacturer Intervala.
The company, which moved into the RIDC Westmoreland Innovation Center near New Stanton in 2021, announced Thursday it has completed a privately funded build-out to enhance production capacity. With the work finished, the manufacturer now plans to grow its staff.
“This expansion reflects the work we do and our commitment to the facility where we’re going to be for a while,” said Rob McKernan, Intervala chief executive officer.
Intervala manufactures printed circuit board assemblies, electromechanical systems and cable and harness equipment. Its products support major corporations in fields ranging from medical apparatus to data centers for artificial intelligence and electronics for Department of Defense contractors.
The project featured a 60,000-square-foot build-out to transform previously underutilized space into fully operational manufacturing capacity. Officials also installed automated storage and retrieval systems to free up another 40,000 square feet of floor space.
The company now occupies a total of 200,000 square feet in the multi-use facility that for decades has been an economic hub in Westmoreland County. Before being retrofitted for multiple private companies, the site served as a major plant for Volkswagen and later was home to Sony electronics.
The industrial park is also the site of a $30 million project to build a 2-mile test track for autonomous vehicles. Work crews started clearing the 100-acre site in December, and officials said the facility could be finished by the end of this year.
Intervala moved to the 2.8 million-square-foot facility from its former location in East Pittsburgh and last fall signed a new five-year lease to remain in Westmoreland County.
“We have confidence in this area. There are great, good-quality people here,” McKernan said.
The company currently employs 300 people and is looking to hire additional staff. Open interviews for as many as 45 job openings will take place Saturday at the plant.
“They are a critical anchor tenant that supports numerous companies in the Pittsburgh area,” said Tim White, senior vice president for Regional Industrial Development Corp., which owns the industrial park. “Getting more investment by manufacturers helps grow the region, and its continued expansion in our region is important.”
Westmoreland County Commissioner Doug Chew praised the company’s commitment to the area.
“Intervala’s expansion and investment in a new production line shows real confidence in Westmoreland County,” Chew said. “Companies don’t expand unless the workforce and business climate supports it. This growth reflects both the strength of our people and our continued focus on attracting, retaining and expanding high-quality employers.”