BUFFALO TWP — After 68 years of operation, Oberg Industries isn’t resting on its laurels. The company on Saturday dedicated its new Precision Machining Center at the Route 356 site.

Work began at the center a few weeks ago. Roughly 160 workers, two shifts, were transferred from Oberg’s Silverville Road site to the new building.

The company has 35 new openings, 10 of which are for staffing the Route 356 machining center.

Along with 75 machines relocated from Silverville Road, 10 new machines were added at the new location.

The company, which promotes new product development, manufactures parts for the aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, construction, metal packaging and energy industries.

David Bonvenuto, Oberg president and chief executive officer, said the new building is a state-of-the-art facility and a testament to the employees.

“This building represents a vote of confidence in our work force,” Bonvenuto said.

The center was dedicated to the late S.J. “Buzz” Irvine, a former board chairman for NexTier Bank and former Oberg board member for 50 years.

Eric Oberg, company board chairman and majority owner, praised Irvine’s contributions.

“He was a father figure to me,” Oberg said. “He was a great leader and adviser.”

Irvine’s family cut the ribbon before tours of the new building began.

David Rugaber, Oberg executive vice president of sales, marketing and business development, guided Butler County Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kim Geyer through the 80,000-square-foot building.

A display case contains samples of the parts Oberg manufactures, including those used in artificial hips and knees. Among the commercial packaging products are cans for beer and water.

Rugaber said 60 percent of cans consumers buy were manufactured by Oberg.

The production area, which covers 65,000 square feet of the building, includes high speed five-axis machines, a multiaxis mill/turn machining center and a quality inspection lab.

The machines were manufactured in Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

“The precision is tighter than a human hair,” Rugaber said about the machines’ capabilities.

Some machinery is used to create sharp corners to parts.

“Imagine a hot wire through butter,” Rugaber said.

The machining center includes a gym/weight room, shower area and a cafeteria.

A quote from Don Oberg, who founded the company in 1948, is printed on the wall: “If it’s almost right, it’s wrong.”

The county commissioners said they were impressed with the new building.

“It’s such an impressive facility,” Geyer said. “It’s exciting to see how manufacturing is moving into the future.”

Osche said companies such as Oberg are a major asset to the county.

“This is what makes the county great,” she said.

State Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-60th, also attended the event.

The dedication and tour were the beginning of activities for employees’ families. A picnic followed. Children played on inflatable recreation equipment.

In addition to Pennsylvania, Oberg has facilities in Costa Rica. The company employs a total of 750 people.

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