A Netherlands-based manufacturing company says it plans on creating 31 jobs in the next three years at its new plant in Milton Township, the site of former Hess Industries.

“That’s our goal, but the hope is it will happen much sooner and that the growth will continue,” said Mike Walker, vice president of sales and marketing for Fontijne Formitt.

Fontijne Formitt is a new venture under the Fontijne Grotnes Group, a global supplier of innovative processes, manufacturing equipment and related services.

In April, Fontijne Grotnes announced it had acquired the intellectual property of Hess Industries, which ceased operation in June 2012.

Fontijne Formitt officially announced its expansion into the former Hess Industries site on Redfield Road in Cass County during a public unveiling Friday.

The company has already done much work to renovate the facility.

Walker said the company chose to expand to Niles and the former Hess facility because of the area’s wealth of skilled labor, the facility’s ability to fit the company’s needs and the area’s vendor base.

The company received a warm welcome from local public officials and economic development groups.

“It is a signal that business is open in the state of Michigan,” said Milton Township Supervisor Robert Benjamin.

Fontijne Formitt specializes in canning and spinning technologies for automotive, construction, marine and agricultural industries.

Walker said the company builds machines capable of making products like catalytic converters, mufflers and filtration pipes, to name a few. Fontijne Formitt can then sell the machine to the customer or continue to make the products on a small scale.

A few of the company’s customers include Cummins, Tenneco and Kohler.