All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Italian manufacturer hosts grand opening for new factory July 29

Mike Graney, executive director of the West Virginia Development Office, addresses dignitaries attending the grand opening of the Pietro Fiorentini manufacturing plant in Weirton.

WEIRTON, W.Va. — Pietro Fiorentini celebrated the completion of its new manufacturing plant Monday, July 29, in Weirton. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the company’s new facility in the Three Springs Business Park.

State and local dignitaries joined company executives for the ribbon-cutting event, followed by a tour of the new factory. The project represents a total investment of $9 million.

Based in Italy, Pietro Fiorentini has been operating out of rented space in Wheeling since 2013. The company is a world leader in the production of pressure regulators, metering systems and other components for the natural gas industry.

The West Virginia factory is the company’s first manufacturing operation in the United States. Pietro Fiorentini has a sales office and a distributorship in Georgia.

“Pietro Fiorentini arrived in West Virginia in 2013, ready to work,” said Gov. Jim Justice. “With advantages such as West Virginia’s pro-growth business environment and quality workforce, the company has stayed with us and is growing with us.”

“We’re very pleased to announce the opening of our new location in Weirton, West Virginia,” says Mario Nardi, CEO of the Pietro Fiorentini Group. “This is not only an opportunity to bring more jobs to the area, but is also a milestone, allowing us to expand our manufacturing capabilities locally in the United States.”

“We want to thank the State of West Virginia and their officials as well as the local community for all the support to make this project happen.”

“We are excited to welcome Pietro Fiorentini to Weirton,” said Patrick Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle. “Having available land was a major asset in attracting Fiorentini. We have Governor Justice and the West Virginia Development Office to thank for being so cooperative and committed and making it possible to respond quickly to Pietro Fiorentini wanting to open their first manufacturing company in the United States.”

Since starting West Virginia operations in 2013, Pietro Fiorentini has modified company divisions and production lines. Currently, the company manufactures a production line for service regulators, three production lines for line pressure regulators and operates three CNC machining centers.

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