Approximately 20 new jobs are headed to the area.

The announcement came Thursday as part of an expansion ground breaking at T&S Perfection Chain Products, Inc.

“Once complete, we will be by far the largest weldless chain manufacturer in north America,” said Michael Weis, senior vice president of Acme Manufacturing. “We’ve had good people down here and a lot of success in this area, and plan on continuing that.”

Perfection Chain has been operating out of Vinemont since 1973 and currently has an 80,000-square-foot facility on Goodwin Road. On Dec. 20, 2012, they acquired Turner & Seymour Company in Torrington, Conn., a company which also manufactures weldless chain products and specializes in sash and safety chain. According to Weis, current plans are to build a 40,000-square-foot expansion to the facility and move Turner & Seymour’s equipment and a few key personnel to the Vinemont location. The capital investment for the project will be an estimated $2.65 million.

“The plan is to move the equipment and personnel down here the third quarter of this year,” he said.

Cullman County Commission Chairman Kenneth Walker expressed his appreciation to the company for the new jobs and investments.

“Mr. Weis, we support you and your company, and we’ll be here for you for any help  we can provide,” Walker said. “We honestly appreciate you having faith in our community to bring this expansion to us.”

He also expressed appreciation to the people who helped bring the company to town.

“I’d like to thank the Cullman County Economic Development Board, City of Cullman Economic Development Agency, and Mrs. Patton and Mike Graves with the town of South Vinemont for working together as a team to make this expansion happen.

Melba Patton, mayor of Vinemont, echoed those thoughts.

“I’m so appreciative of the groups that helped to pull this business here,” she said. “Vinemont is a small town, and I push the word team work, and as long as everybody works together, there will be success. I’d like to welcome this business. We do appreciate the jobs being brought in. If jobs are brought in, anywhere they go in Cullman County, it’s a benefit to us all.”

Ashley Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 225, or by email at agraves@cullmantimes.com