Area Development
Lenox, a maker of saws and other tools, is investing $60 million in its facility in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, the Republican reports. The company has already invested $11 million in renovations to its 530,000-square-foot facility in 2010, and more than $1 million in a conference and training center called the Lenox Institute of Technology.

Newell Rubbermaid, which also owns the Rubbermaid and Sharpie brands, is Lenox's parent company. About half of Lenox's business is comprised of power tools and accessories. About a third of power tool sales stay in the United States, while more than half of band saw business is in North America. All other sales are distributed overseas.

In the past year, Lenox has hired 75 employees and has a total of 720 workers in East Longmeadow.

"We're very, very profitable," said Richard M. Wuerthele, Lenox president. "We are in a product line where `Made in the USA' has value."

Wuerthele expects an increase in steel use to boost industrial business in 2011.