ECR International will consolidate production at its factories in Utica and Dunkirk, N.Y. Dennis Mullen, Empire State Development President, Upstate, said in a statement that ECR’s decision to anchor manufacturing in Western New York and the Mohawk Valley “highlights the company's commitment to Upstate and showcases the fact that here in New York State we are creating an environment where business can grow and prosper.”

ECR CEO Mike Paparone announced that the company plans to shift production from ECR plants in Rome, N.Y., and Wallaceburg, Ontario, to factories in Utica and Dunkirk, resulting in the loss of approximately 100 manufacturing jobs in Wallaceburg, where furnaces are made. ECR will maintain Canadian sales, service and distribution.

The Rome plant, where air-conditioners are made, employs about 80 workers but ECR hopes to move about half of those jobs to Utica, Paparone said. The changes will begin during the first quarter of 2009 and extend through the fourth quarter. All affected employees will be offered career counseling and outplacement services.

“While ECR had to make some tough decisions to remain competitive in the global economy, they have decided to build a stronger foundation here in New York. Renovating and expanding Dunkirk and Utica will allow ECR to better serve their customers with high quality, innovative products and ultimately add more jobs,” said Mullen.

The changes will not impact production of ECR's new Freewatt® heat and power system or the company’s joint venture facility in Ningbo, China, where ECR currently manufactures electronic controls.