Congressman Fred Upton paid a visit to Modineer after learning the Niles-based manufacturing company had secured a deal to create parts for new Ford F-250 pickup trucks.

Mike Stesiak, the company’s chief operating officer, said Modineer plans to hire 10 to 12 people as a result of the new order.

“To see Modineer invest millions of dollars into equipment is a really promising sign,” said Upton after a tour of the facility at 2190 Industrial Drive on Wednesday. “They have long-term contracts making tens of millions of parts and they are hiring. It is exciting because these are good-paying jobs.”

Stesiak said Modineer would be supporting approximately 285,000 vehicles with the new order.

“That relates to us about a million-plus parts a year that we will be supplying to Ford,” he said, adding that full production would begin in the spring.

According to a company data sheet, Modineer projects sales with Ford to reach $42 million by 2017 — up from $11 million two years ago.

In addition to dealing with Ford, Modineer also supplies military parts to AM General in Mishawaka and automotive parts to General Motors plants throughout the country.

Stesiak said the company has approximately 600 employees in Niles and another 160 at its location in St. Louis.

Modineer, which was created by Paul Dreher in 1940, is still family owned.

For more information about the company, visit the website Modineer.com.