The firm, a subsidiary of Olympus Optical Co. Ltd. of Japan, opened its new 60,000-sf North American headquarters on Tuesday in front of about 100 local and international dignitaries. The new facility at One Corporate Drive is a significant expansion for the firm that had operated out of offices at 400 Airport Executive Park in Nanuet.

Olympus Industrial America, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Olympus KeyMed Group of the United Kingdom, will employ about 100 workers at its new North American corporate headquarters by this April when the firm's Industrial Microscope Division is relocated to the Orangeburg property. About two years ago, the company had just 10 employees working out of its Nanuet operation. Olympus Industrial America manufactures, markets and distributes remote visual inspection products and microscopes for industrial and medical use.

The new facility, which cost approximately $19 million to build, features a customer training center, fully equipped service and repair laboratory, a customer call center and a computerized warehouse and distribution facility. The company broke ground on the project about nine months ago. The construction manager for the project was the HLW Design Build LLC of New York City. The general contractor was OD&P of New York City.

Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, president of Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., said at the building opening ceremony that the facility is a major investment geared at improving its ability to serve its U.S. customers.

"The investment made in the infrastructure of the company, which we see around us today, is a tangible illustration of the commitment Olympus has to ensuring the future growth and success of our industrial business in the United States," Mr. Kikukawa said. "I have no doubt that under the management you have heard speak here today, Olympus Industrial America will be a shining example of the very best in Anglo-Japanese cooperation."

Olympus Industrial America built its North American headquarters under a straight lease transaction with the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency.