Denmark-based PMC Technology has chosen Golden for its first U.S. operations facility as well as the North American headquarters for its parent.

In an economic development coup, a Denmark-based company has chosen Golden for the site of its first operational facility in the U.S., as well as its North American headquarters.

PMC Technology will lease 43,320 square feet of industrial space in the Coors Technology Center at 16133 West 45th Drive in Golden . Scheduled to begin operations in February, the site will also serve as as the North American headquarters for its parent company, the Sweden-based PMC Group.

PMC big player in wind industry

PMC Group is a leading manufacturer of hydraulic components for the windmill industry, offshore and marine, industrial and mobile equipment. Its new Golden headquarters is expected to employ up to 40 employees within its first five years of operation.

Several factors played into PMC’s site selection in Golden, according to PMC Purchase and Planning Manager Mikkel Johnsen, future Vice President of Operations at PMC Hydraulics Inc. in Golden.

“With 5,380 square feet of office space and 37,940 square feet of manufacturing/warehouse space, settled on 5.48 acres, this Class A building offers numerous area amenities and direct access to I-70, Golden, Downtown Denver and DIA,” Johnsen said.

“Golden is relatively close to PMC’s biggest U.S. customer, Vestas Americas in Brighton, which was critical to site selection,” Johnsen  added. “Jefferson County’s business-friendly environment and highly skilled workforce also factored greatly into PMC’s decision.”

Quality of life important

The City of Golden pointed out other factors that serve as magnets for companies like PMC, such as a pro-business tax climate that is one of the lowest in the U.S. and an unmatched quality of life.

Golden actively pursues companies that complement  its dedication to sustainability and innovation.

“PMC is exactly the kind of company to advance our economic development goals for sustainability and job growth,” says Golden Mayor Jacob Smith.

Officials from both the City of Golden and Jefferson County reported that they are “thrilled to have such a solid tenant establish itself on the west side of Denver.”

“Both the City of Golden and Jefferson County were instrumental in facilitating this business deal. Their collaborative efforts resulted in a virtually seamless transaction,” said Robert Bruce of Frederick Ross Co., who along with fellow Ross brokers Dave Lee and Jason Addlesperger, represented the landlord and served as the exclusive real estate representatives in this transaction. They have been working on the deal for about six months. He noted that the site is large enough to handle another 40,000-square-foot building, if the company wants to expand.

“I think this is exciting news for the state, city and county,” Bruce said. “I know that they looked at other cities and states, in addition to Golden and Colorado. I’m not sure exactly how many. They kept their information pretty close to their vest.”

High-paying  jobs

He said he thinks the company will create some  high-paying jobs. “I expect they will be hiring engineering types of people,” he said. The average salary will be $35,000, “which is not that high, but what they told us,” said Preston Gibson, president and CEO of the Jefferson Economic Council. However, Gibson said he suspects that the jobs will be all over the map, ranging from higher-paid engineers to manufacturing and jobs that pay less.

Golden’s business community has always been a fountain head for innovative businesses and institutions like Coors, Colorado School of Mines, and National Renewable Energy Labs (NREL).

“NREL was really key,” Bruce said. “A lot of cutting-edge, sustainable energy companies are drawn to the west side because of NREL. The Colorado School of Mines is another big draw.”

The proximity to and relationship with these institutions make Golden an attractive location for companies like PMC, according to Gibson, the head of the Jefferson Economic Council.

“This is a great example of how our relationships with the community, its growing base of alternative energy companies and our pro-business attitude are all working together to bring R&D and manufacturing opportunities to the region,” Gibson said.

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com or 303-945-6865.

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Smith, long a proponent of sustainable living, this year has sold a number of homes to people who have moved to Golden to take high-paying jobs in clean-energy fields.

But in one case, it truly hit home – literally.

“I have two homes, and I leased one of them to a guy who has relocated from Charlottesville, Va., to take a high-paying job at NREL (the National Renewable Energy Laboratory),” Smith, the owner of Golden Real Estate Inc. told me today.

“Hopefully, he will buy it,” Smith added. “He seems to really like living there.”

Smith said that Golden may be getting more of its lion-share of jobs because of its proximity to NREL.

“I think we’re seeing more of those jobs in Jeffco than elsewhere in the metro area,” Smith said.

Not only is it close to NREL and companies that deal with NREL, but it has the type of lifestyle that many people associate with Colorado, he said. NREL, as I blogged earlier, is holding a major conference on clean-energy this week in downtown Denver. And in another blog, I reported on how fast-growing the clean-energy sector

“You can be riding your bike up Lookout Mountain practically from your backyard,” Smith said. “I sold a foreclosure in Commerce City for about $180,000. That house would have cost $500,000 in Golden. But you wouldn’t be able to look out your window in Commerce City and see the view I’m looking at right now.”

Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com or 303-945-6865.

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