Elna Magnetics to Build New Plant, Double Workforce

Saugerties, NY (February 26, 2009) – Elna Magnetics, a manufacturer and distributor of magnetic cores for electronics applications ranging from solar to the aerospace industry, plans to construct a new $4 million facility in Saugerties that will allow the company to double its workforce over the next three years.

Founded in 1955, Elna Magnetics is a “longtime Ulster County gem of a company,” according to Lance Mattison, President of the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency, which is offering significant financial benefits and tax benefits for the expansion.  He noted that the project is in line with two of the county’s priority target business clusters: niche manufacturing and solar-related technology businesses.

Joseph Ferraro, President of Elna Magnetics, said that the company’s products are used in electronic devices that run the gamut from cars and airplanes to computers and DVD players.  Elna uses blanks of ferrite – a ceramic material made of manganese, zinc and iron oxide – and presses and fires it into preformed or modified shapes.  Among exciting new applications for the magnetic cores are artificial hearts and implantable defibrillators.  Elna is also the authorized distributor for Metglas, an amorphous metal now being used in the manufacture of solar energy products.  For details, visit www.elnamagnetics.com.