Sealcore comes home

NORWALK — Sealcore officially broke ground Monday on a new U.S. manufacturing facility in Norwalk's North Central Ohio Industrial Park. It's a project that will relocate operations from Elyria and anchor the company's first domestic production site. For managing director Henrik Zimmer, the milestone is about more than business. Standing beside his wife, Diane, Zimmer told the gathered crowd the choice of location carried deep personal meaning. "We are excited to have the opportunity to manufacture here in the United States and especially in Norwalk, my wife's hometown," Zimmer said. He reminded attendees that Diane grew up in Norwalk, a connection that made the move back feel like more than a corporate decision. "She was born and raised right here in Norwalk," he said. "Ten years ago we began our adventure here in the United States and now we are building a new facility and moving production in." From distribution to manufacturing Until now, Sealcore's U.S. presence has operated from Elyria, where the company distributed products shipped from Italy. O-rings, rotary shaft seals, high-performance polymers and custom 3D-printed parts all made the journey across the Atlantic before reaching American customers, according to Zimmer. Zimmer said the goal at first was simply to create a modest space to transfer those Elyria operations closer to the workforce already living in Norwalk. "The process was real quick," Zimmer explained. "I wanted to have a small building to move our Elyria business over here to Norwalk. I wanted to bring our business back home to where she grew up. Most of our employees, too, are from Norwalk." But as soon as his European partners heard the plan, the project took on a much larger scale. "My partners in Germany called me and said they wanted to start production in the U.S. too, so I said 'OK guys,' and we tripled our size," he said. "We are now at 35,000 square feet and we plan to eventually expand to 70,000." A growing network of companies The Norwalk facility won't just serve Sealcore. Zimmer confirmed that sister companies within the Sealcore Network will also establish a footprint at the site. Fluorten, which specializes in engineering components made from high-performance polymers known by the names PTFE, PEEK and Vespel — according to the company website — will begin production in Norwalk in 2026. ORINGONE will also take space in the new building. Known for producing large-diameter and nonstandard O-rings and calibrated cords, ORINGONE uses its proprietary compression step-molding process to manufacture specialty seals, according to the company website. Economic impact and local support The project also promises to bring jobs and payroll growth to the region. Sealcore currently employs four full-time workers, but by 2029 the workforce is expected to grow to 20, with payroll reaching $1 million annually. Job creation will be phased in, with at least a dozen positions filled by the end of 2027, according to Zimmer and plans on file with the city. Zimmer told attendees the company is planning a formal opening ceremony in May 2026. Norwalk Mayor Dave Light welcomed Sealcore's commitment to the city. "Thank you for choosing Norwalk and for investing in Norwalk," Light said. "It means a great deal to us." The project is being constructed by Janotta & Herner, the Monroeville-based design-build firm. Zimmer said the groundbreaking wasn't just about expanding capacity but about anchoring Sealcore in a place that felt like home. "I wanted to bring our business back home to where she grew up," he said, glancing toward his wife.