Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from Doosan’s spokeswoman.
Doosan Corp., the South Korean conglomerate that bought ClearEdge Power out of bankruptcy in July, said in an announcement Wednesday that it intends to keep the fuel cell manufacturer’s operations in South Windsor, and hire hundreds of workers.
A spokeswoman for Doosan, Wendy Matthews, said Wednesday afternoon that the company plans to hire at least 100 people by mid-2015. She said Doosan wants to start operations in the fall.
South Windsor Town Manager Matthew Galligan said that he met in July with the CEO of Doosan’s fuel cell group, Jeff Chung, who told him they were aiming to hire back between 130 and 150 of the 268 employees ClearEdge laid off when it abruptly closed in April.
Doosan has not explored any state or local economic incentives, Matthews said.
The Hartford Business Journal has reached out to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office for comment.
The outcome is a happy one for South Windsor, Galligan said.
“They could have picked this thing up and left, but they’re not doing that,” he said.
Doosan paid $32.4 million for ClearEdge, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May.
ClearEdge had been headquartered in California, but the Governors Highway plant in South Windsor was its largest manufacturing operation. Doosan Fuel Cell America’s official headquarters will be South Windsor, the company said.
Doosan said it intends to focus on ClearEdge’s 400-kilowatt stationary fuel cell, which it acquired from UTC Power in 2013.
Chung is a former McKinsey & Co. consultant who headed corporate strategy for Doosan Heavy Industries. The fuel cell group also includes the assets of Fuel Cell Power, which Doosan also acquired in July.
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ClearEdge files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection
