From Brazil, Corbett announces plans for new plant

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- An international manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders plans to open a facility in central Pennsylvania by the end of this year, Gov. Tom Corbett said Tuesday from Brazil as he leads a South American trade mission.

The planned Wipro Infrastructure Engineering plant in Chambersburg will create 74 local jobs and generate $10 million in capital investment over a decade, Corbett and officials involved in the project said in a telephone conference from Sao Paulo with Pennsylvania reporters.

India-based Wipro is a major supplier of Volvo Construction Equipment, which officials said has a strong presence in Brazil and whose only North American production facility is located in Shippensburg, Pa. Wipro already has 13 facilities worldwide.

While plans for the Chambersburg plant were largely firmed up before the trade mission that began Saturday, Volvo officials met with their Brazilian suppliers Tuesday morning to discuss the possibility of moving closer to the American facility, said Mike Ross president of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation, who was with Corbett.

Corbett, who is leading a group of about 50 people who include his aides and private business leaders, defended foreign trade missions as a tool to encourage international economic linkages and something that many others governors do.

"If we sit at home and just make phone calls, we aren't necessarily going to get any attention from the companies that are looking to invest somewhere in the world," he said. "We are competing with the world, so this is our way of getting Pennsylvania on everybody's radar scope."

The 10-day trip also includes a stop in Chile.

Corbett led a similar trade mission to France and Germany last year.