Diamond Manufacturing Co., North America’s largest perforator of sheet, coil and tubular steel used throughout the automotive industry, recently announced the expansion of its Michigan City, Ind., manufacturing facility.

The expansion is scheduled to begin in March 2006 and marks an investment of $4.3 million in real estate and machinery to the region. The state-of-the-art plant will feature an advanced robotics manufacturing process, and will add approximately 76 new jobs to the current 47-person operation over a three-year period.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our facility in Michigan City,” said Rusty Flack, president and CEO of Diamond Manufacturing. “The cost-saving incentives provided by the state and local governments will enable us to grow our business and ultimately to provide more jobs to the Northwest Indiana region. Additionally, by expanding into this area Diamond is poised to serve our Midwest customers and utilize the excellent labor force and access to rail and highway.”

Diamond Manufacturing was founded in 1915 as a family-owned business in Wyoming, Pa., producing coal screens. The company located new manufacturing facilities to Michigan City in 1993. The Michigan City facility has already grown from 15,000 square feet to nearly 70,000.