Governor's Office of Economic Development

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 21, 2002

For More Information: Mary Lehecka Nelson, (605) 773-5032

Smith Equipment to Add 30 jobs

Pierre – Smith Equipment of Watertown is creating 30 jobs as the result of the relocation of National Torch Tip (NTT) product line, Chris Braendlin, commissioner, Governor’s Office of Economic Development announced today, Monday, October 21, 2002. NTT is a Pittsburgh, PA-based company. 

 “The good news of this announcement is not only the creation of 30 jobs, but the positive impact this expansion is having on existing employees,” Braendlin said. “Since the company is taking on a new product line, existing employees at Smith’s are given the opportunity to advance their skills,” he said. The state awarded Smith Equipment a Workforce Development grant to help with the training.

Braendlin said that availability of a quality workforce was one of the company’s key decisions in moving NTT’s product line to South Dakota. “The company knows that it can find the workers it needs to be profitable in Watertown,” he said.

The company is renting 30,000 square feet of space in Watertown. “Smith’s is renting space in a 70,000 square foot building. The nice thing about that is, it gives the company options for storage and future growth,” Braendlin said.

Jim Bassingthwaitt, manager at Smith Equipment, said the move made sense. “Since NTT makes an after market product to fit competitor’s torches, it just made sense to bring the manufacturing to Watertown so like products could be under the same management team,” he said. Bassingthwaitt also noted that the quality labor force was a huge selling point.

“Focus Watertown recently completed a workforce development study that reinforced Smith’s opinion of the Watertown employees,” said Richard Benda, president, Focus Watertown. “Ninety-six percent of the employers rated their worker’s productivity level as excellent or good. Ninety-two percent rated their attitudes as excellent or good,” he said.

Smith was established in 1916 and employs 170 people in Watertown. Smith is a leading manufacturer of oxy-fuel cutting and welding equipment, cutting, brazing and welding torches, gas pressure regulators, specialty gas regulators and gas mixers.

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