Equipment manufacturer Raymond Corp in Greene is beginning to deal with increased market demand and consolidating production from a Brantford, Ontario, Canada plant (Forkliftaction.com News #429).

The Greene facility employs more than 900 staff and may add 100 positions by mid-October as Raymond and others in the materials handling industry perceive an initial rebound from the 2009 downturn.

By December, Raymond was slowing production rates and manufacturing and assembling equipment primarily in response to specific customer orders.

Currently, Raymond has positions available in administrative, engineering, marketing, sales and production functions including fabrication, painting, welding and machining. The firm participated in an 18 June job fair (Forkliftaction.com News #467).

Raymond uses on-the-job training programs through local tax-funded workforce agencies and can benefit from federal payroll tax incentives of 6.2% for hiring a New York resident out of work for at least 60 days after 3 February 2010. The US Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act expires on 1 January.