Grand opening of the Westfield Fluid Controls facility expected to bring jobs to Lafayette

Jakori Madison, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
·2 min read

The grand opening of the Westfield Fluid Controls Manufacturing Facility is expected to create 67 new direct jobs in Acadiana.

The new facility is a 30,000-square-foot facility featuring state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing equipment at Northpark Technology Center along West Pont des Mouton Road. In 2020, the company announced its launch that included a $5.1 million capital investment and a commitment to create new jobs with an average annual salary of $49,797, plus benefits.

Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 106 new indirect jobs, for a total of 173 new jobs in Lafayette Parish and the Acadiana Region.

The Lafayette Economic Development Authority is one of the major economic development groups serving Lafayette Parish and the Acadiana area
The Lafayette Economic Development Authority is one of the major economic development groups serving Lafayette Parish and the Acadiana area

Westfield Fluid Controls, part of Westfield Hydraulics, specializes in the manufacture, assembly, and testing of powered and non-powered valves and fluid controls for the aerospace and defense industries. Westfield Hydraulics, CEO Robert A. Schacht celebrated the completion of Westfield Fluid Control’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in NorthPark, one of four Lafayette Parish business parks owned by the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA).

“I thank Westfield Fluid Controls for their investment in our state and congratulate them on the swift completion of this new facility, which is a perfect illustration of the diversity of Louisiana’s manufacturing sector,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “This new business will have a positive impact beyond the creation of more than 170 jobs in the Acadiana Region. It also will have long-term benefits the state’s economy by producing materials that support our expanding aerospace and defense sectors.”

Founded in 1974, Westfield Hydraulics is a leading provider in the industry according to the company. The company is relocating an existing manufacturing operation from San Fernando, California, to Lafayette. Westfield considered locations in Texas, Florida and Ohio before choosing Louisiana.

To secure the project, Louisiana offered a package that included comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart program, which is the top-rated state workforce development program in the U.S. for the past 11 years and eligibility for a performance-based grant of up to $250,000 for the cost of facility construction and equipment in Lafayette. The company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs.

“This is a big milestone for the company and a testament to effective collaboration between the state, local government, and regional stakeholders,” says Robert Schacht, CEO of Westfield Hydraulics. “We are excited and grateful to be welcomed into the Acadiana community and look forward to an exciting next chapter.”

“The establishment of Westfield Fluid Controls is a big win for Lafayette and continues to demonstrate that our community’s skilled workforce and existing business base are attractive to outside businesses,” Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory said. “I look forward to working with Westfield’s team as the company grows in Lafayette Parish.”

When hiring begins, information about open positions at Westfield Fluid Controls will be listed on LEDA’s Online Job Board at www.lafayette.org/jobs.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: New jobs in Acadiana with the opening of a manufacturing facility