´óÏó´«Ã½

The $2000 checks were issued to just over 1000 employees at the company’s New York locations in Skaneateles and Elbridge and approximately 80 employees between Tessy Tooling (Erie, Penn.) and NuTec Tooling Systems Inc. (Meadville, Penn.), according to Roland Beck, president and owner of Tessy.

As originally reported at Syracuse.com on March 23, Beck informed the employees of the payment in a letter sent that same day. In response to orders from local government, Beck said Tessy has stopped running all non-essential work and is currently concentrating on essential medical products.

In terms of capacity utilization, Beck said its facilities are running at about 80 percent right now, with the hope being that figure will drop no lower than 60 percent. In terms of how long this might last, Beck said the company is operating in the dark.

“Tessy has not received any guidance from the state regarding how long the shutdown will last,” Beck said. “I don’t believe that anyone knows that information.”

Tessy was founded in 1973 by Roland’s father, Henry Beck. At the start of the year, the company announced a $20 million investment in its South Plant in Elbridge, expanding it by 100,000-ft².