California manufacturer plans move to Reno

Thermo-Stone, a developer and manufacturer of thin film heating strips used to radiate heat, will relocate to Reno from its headquarters near Monterey, Calif.

The company will take approximately 20,000 square feet at 725 Trademark Drive in South Meadows.

Thermo-Stone's products are found in a wide range of industries, President Kerry Goodsel says, including the semiconductor and medical fields and consumer electronics. An example is the ignition-interlock device for DUI offenders. Thermo-Stone's thin-film heater helps the analyzing unit identify how much alcohol is in a person's breath.

"Anything that needs to apply heat we have the potential to get into," Goodsel says.

Because of the company's growth curve the past few years, Goodsel says it outgrew its current location in both size and scope of capabilities, but he couldn't find a new building for an attractive price in California. He narrowed an extensive search to Austin, Texas and Reno and eventually settled on northern Nevada for its positive business climate and the potential to draw skilled workers from the Silicon Valley.

"It just came to the point where we were working with more sophisticated customers, and they need to see a better facility," Goodsel says. "We were looking for areas close to semiconductor manufacturing centers, and Reno doesn't quite have as strong a presence as other regions, but because of its proximity to San Jose it will be very easy to pull someone to the Reno area if we don't have the right person."

Thermo-Stone USA expects to be fully operational by July and plans on hiring about 15 employees by the end of the year Goodsel was unsure how many of the company's 12 employees are willing to relocate. Thermo-Stone could grow to as many as 35 employees by 2016, Goodsel says.

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, which assisted Thermo-Stone with its move, says the company will generate more than $35 million in economic impact to the region over the next five years.

Thermo-Stone is a perfect example of the type of manufacturing company targeted by EDAWN, says CEO Mike Kazmierski.

"They are a high-growth company that will do their manufacturing and the further development of their product here in Reno," he says.