By Perry Schaible
Enquirer contributor

MONROE - Gov. Bob Taft helped local officials Monday welcome an expansion at Dayton Technologies that will bring another 45 jobs.

The vinyl systems manufacturer started a new production phase that represents a $7 million investment in this community.

Taft has made attracting and keeping jobs the focus of his agenda this year.

"Dayton Technologies is a growing company that shows that Ohio is a good place to locate and expand a business," Taft said. "Ohio is competing in a brutally competitive world economy, and that's why I am focused on spending every day doing all I can to help create jobs for Ohioans."

Dayton Technologies considered four sites - including Delaware and New Jersey - before choosing the Monroe location.

The company opened its new composite extrusion facility, where it will manufacture a deck and railing line utilizing engineered wood composite technology. The new product, a composition of high density polyethylene and wood flour, will be manufactured in a section of the company's 550,000-square-foot facility on North Garver Road, just off Interstate 75.

"We definitely need the jobs, and we need the company here for tax purposes," said Butler County Commissioner Charles Furmon. Employment at the Monroe site, which employs 380, has increased 25 percent in five years, officials said.

The products will be sold through a joint venture with Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Home Exterior. Dayton Technologies will manufacture the products while Alcoa will market and distribute them under the name brand, Oasis.

Growing company

Dayton Technologies is a designer and extruder of vinyl for windows and doors. The company was founded as Dayton Extruded Plastics Inc. in 1969. It became known as Dayton Technologies in 1995.