CLAYTON - Turkington USA, which makes industrial ovens and baking equipment, has moved into its new plant next to Talecris on U.S. 70 Business.

"We're very pleased," Turkington president John Lucas said after the move last week. "Our blood pressures are running a little high as we settle in. This week does mark a big milestone."

Employees started work on Aug. 31, with office staff at their desks as workers installed air-conditioning ducts above their heads. The company had to be out of its Goldsboro space by the end of the month, so the transition was rushed. Production will likely start next week.

About 110 employees have moved to Clayton from the Goldsboro plant, Lucas said. The company also expects to hire about 35 new employees.

Many employees are still commuting from Goldsboro, but company officials said they expect many will move to Johnston County and that some already live in the Clayton area.

After its lease in Goldsboro ran out, the company chose to move to Clayton because the former C&K Components building, with 60,000 square feet, had the necessary infrastructure already in place, Lucas said. And because an increasing number of Turkington employees work on the technology side of the business, being closer to the Research Triangle Park was ideal, he said.

"Our need for recruitment drives us to the Triangle," Lucas said. "We knew we needed to move in that direction."

With the impending deadline to leave Goldsboro, renovations to the building had to move quickly. The Walthom Group, a Clayton developer, had about four months to get the space ready.

"There's been a lot of double shifts," said Walthom Group partner Jim Lee. "It's been an ordeal."

Lee said local government officials were extremely helpful in getting approvals done quickly. He said building inspectors were willing to come in on Saturdays when needed.

Turkington officials said the company will become an active part of the community. Lucas said he's interested in forming a partnership with Johnston Community College to train employees in new technologies. He said the company had a similar relationship with Mount Olive College during its 27 years in Goldsboro.

The Clayton plant will serve as the company's North American headquarters. Turkington got started in 1921 in England, where it's based.

Turkington makes custom-built commercial bakery equipment, including ovens, mixers and coolers. The large ovens can make up to 12,000 loaves of bread an hour. The baking systems are so large that food can travel up to a mile during the baking process.

The Clayton plant will also supply spare parts. It will keep an inventory of about $4.5 million in spare parts and will be able to make parts for any equipment the company has ever made.