For 46 years, R&D Magazine has recognized excellence in laboratory design, materials, and construction through its Laboratory of the Year competition. This year’s winner is Singapore’s Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE).

Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - A local company’s announcement of more job creation shows Taylor and Williamson County continue to benefit from the region’s economic growth.

Durcon Incorporated CEO Cordell Bennigson announced plans to add approximately 80 new production, technical and managerial jobs at its Taylor manufacturing facility.

The move is part of Durcon’s company-wide effort to support its global business goals, Bennigson said in the announcement released Monday through the Taylor Economic Development Corporation Monday.

Durcon has recently consolidated all manufacturing to its 120,000 square-foot production and warehousing facility on East Fourth Street (US Hwy. 79)./p>

“Focusing on our operations in Taylor makes good business sense because we can draw from a deep pool of local Taylor talent and attract workers from Georgetown, Round Rock, Elgin and other cities across Williamson and Travis counties as we grow,� Chief Financial Officer Edward Pfaff said.

anies like Durcon expanding and/or moving into the Central Texas region.

Williamson County’s 2012 annual unemployment rate dropped a full percentage point from the 2011 annual rate of 6.9 and continues to improve in 2013 with rats of 5.8 percent reported in January and 5.5 percent in February.

The 2011 rate was an improvement over the previous two years. As the recession took hold in Texas, Williamson County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.6 percent in 2008 to over 7 percent in 2009 and 2010. The annual rate improved slightly to 6.9 percent in 2011.

Durcon officials said the company has increased overall employee count by nearly 50 percent over the past six months and continues to recruit personnel to fill positions in all departments including production, molding, sales, IT, marketing, accounting and engineering. The company has already begun filling these positions and is screening recent graduates as well as seasoned professionals.

Manufacturing was one of the major sectors contributing 21,000 of the 80,600 jobs added to the Texas economy in February, according to the TWC.

Durcon’s manufacturing in Taylor, along with sales and fabrication facilities located around the world, supply work surfaces for laboratory and research environments requiring the highest degree of heat and chemical resistance and stone-like physical properties.

“The Taylor Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) is proud to call Durcon a partner in our economic development and job creation endeavors,� said TEDC President/CEO, Sean Stockard. “Durcon jobs are the exact types of jobs that are good for the Taylor community and we at the TEDC are pleased to be able assist Durcon as they continue to grow in Taylor.�

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