Former Rex Forge Facility Purchased for New Industrial Use
The sudden closure of Rex Forge in February 2025 came as a shock to many in Southington. Not only did its one-hundred employees receive layoff notices, it also marked the end of a run for a company that, under various names, had been manufacturing metal parts in town for nearly 160 years.
That manufacturing tradition is about to be renewed, thanks to Meriden-based Cable Management, which recently finalized its purchase of the building at 335 Atwater Street and plans to expand its operations into the facility.
Cable Management, which was founded in 2007 by Ross Trudeau and is co-owned by Trudeau and Daniel Cotnoir, specializes in advanced metals recycling such as the recovery of copper from old coated wire. It also builds machines that perform recycling tasks.
“We’re planning on moving into the front part of the building during the first year,” Trudeau said in an interview. “We already have manufacturing in Meriden, so we’re planning to add manufacturing in Plantsville, and to have a recycling facility there as well.”
He said he expects to hire about 30 people for the new shop. “From there it’s only going to grow. If we expand into the back of the facility, it could be more.”
Trudeau said that the Rex Forge building was a good fit for several reasons. “We had been looking for a place that was heavy industrial. It seemed to fit our M.O., with it being a forge and us being in the metal business. The proximity to the highway and the proximity to our other shop, about 12 minutes away, was a factor. It has the space that we need.”
He said that the roofs of the old building may prove just as valuable as the floor space. “We had to lay off over 20 people in Meriden because of the cost of electricity. Our goal is to get our own power and go solar. We’ll have that ability with the rooftops because there’s a lot of rooftop up there. This is our shot at being able to rewrite the story with our own power and to be able to hire back that team to do the processing.”
According to real estate firm O,R&L Commercial, which brokered the deal, the 111,619 square-foot property was purchased for $1,275,000.
Another Large Company Also Coming to Town
Last week O,R&L Commercial also announced a second addition to Southington’s industrial portfolio. According to a press release, New Jersey-based Farren International has signed a lease for a large, 275,000 square-foot industrial space at 75 Aircraft Road currently owned by IRG Realty Advisors of Ohio.
The release states that "The long-term lease brings the property to full occupancy and represents one of the largest industrial lease transactions in the region this year."
Farren says on its website that it specializes in “logistical solutions” that involve the transportation of oversized industrial components and other large cargoes.
Its promotional videos feature specialized cranes and tractor-trailers with ‘Oversize Load’ signs.
