
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991                   TAG: 9103070123
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

WATER-MATIC MOVES INTO HENNIS BUILDING

Water-matic International, a Roanoke vacuum cleaner wholesaler, has moved its manufacturing operation from Ontario, Canada, to the former Hennis truck terminal on Salem Turnpike.

The company expects to create 15 jobs this year and another 10 to 12 jobs in 1992, said George W. Kifer, president. His distribution operation has six employees.

The renovated Hennis Freight building, vacant since 1982, has 20,000 square feet, representing an expansion from the company's former quarters at Melrose Avenue and Peters Creek Road.

Water-matic has a market in Japan where sales are expected to double, Kifer said. The company sells the $1,000 units through distributors for home use. Its products include both dry and wet/dry cleaners and accessories.

Kifer, who has 29 years in the business, opened his own company in Lynchburg in 1976. He moved the operation to Roanoke in 1981.

Kifer said he decided to consolidate the business here because he "wanted to take advantage of the excellent labor force and business climate." - Staff report

by CNB