Fujitec America's new U.S. headquarters will be moved from Lebanon to Mason, President Kenny Yamashiro told Mason City Council on Monday, July 14.

The contract is still under negotiation and is expected to be announced next week, said Michele Phelps, marketing director.

Phelps said all 130 employees will move with the company, which manufactures elevators and escalators.

In March, Fujitec sold the 124 acre property where it is headquartered to Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions for $16 million because the space was too large, Phelps said.

The company will first invest $4 million in renovating the old Borden building on Innovation Way in Mason for its new headquarters. Payroll for these employees, who make an average of $65,000 a year, will amount to $7.1 million. Mason estimated the company will bring $1.2 million worth of new revenue to the local economy.

Moving gives Fujitec the opportunity to modernize its surroundings and have more efficient systems, Phelps said. Fujitec America will continue manufacturing elevator and escalator equipment in New York and larger components overseas.

Fujitec will remain in Lebanon until the end of 2008, she said.

In 2006, in order to meet long term growth opportunities in the industry, Fujitec refocused the Lebanon headquarters on research, development and manufacturing of controllers for elevators and escalators.

In 1983, the facility was originally used to manufacture large scale escalator transit systems, which needed more space and employees. Plans to develop the property never happened, Phelps added.

"Right now Fujitec is the most profitable and stable its been in 30 years. From a financial perspective, there's a lot of overhead at this facility that we've been able to get rid of," Phelps said.

Recently Fujitec announced a regional restructure that allows the company to expand by regionalizing business plans through vice presidents in Eastern, Central and Western regions.

Fujitec America is a division of Fujitec Co., Ltd., founded in Osaka, Japan. Current Dayton maintenance customers include Dayton Board of Education, Maria Joseph Living Care Center, Schuster Towers and Dayton YWCA.