STILLWATER, Okla. — Total Energy, a maker of storage tanks, towers and custom pressure vessels, will open a fabrication facility in Stillwater.

Total Energy CEO and President Robert Armentano announced  the company would employ more than 200 people at its Stillwater plant.

He said the plant would be “up and running” by April 1, 2013.

Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Chairman Gregg Bradshaw said  Total Energy will generate approximately $9 million in payroll and have an annual economic impact of $42 million in Stillwater.

Total Energy purchased the former Quad/Graphics facility. 100 W. AIrport Road. Quad/Graphics consolidated operations to Oklahoma City and planned to close its Stillwater location in 2012.

The plant will serve as Total Energy’s primary fabrication facility and the home of the company’s new engineering and construction division, which is expected to begin operating in  the fourth quarter 2013.

“The largest part of the company doesn’t exist today, engineering and construction, and that will be right here in Stillwater,”  Armentano said.

Total Energy is headquartered in North Salem, N.Y., and is expected to move its corporate office to Stillwater by 2013, Armentano said.

The new facility will provide the company with 334,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 32 acres of outdoor storage and a rail spur that allows for delivery of steel directly from mills.

“Stillwater and the state of Oklahoma are business friendly with strong ties to the oil and gas industry, as well as they offer a quality workforce and convenient location to many of Total Energy’s customers,”  Armentano said. “We are well positioned to capitalize on the current energy and petrochemical boom and will expand our operations considerably in Stillwater, providing turnkey engineering and construction services to our customers.”

Armentano said  the company welcomes the opportunity to partner with Oklahoma State University and its engineering program to establish and fund a research program providing engineering students hands-on experience with ASME pressure vessel design and construction.

“What a great time to be in Stillwater,”  Stillwater Mayor John Bartley said.

“The company currently employs over 100 people and has an aggressive growth strategy over the next decade,” said Lisa Navrkal, President/CEO of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. “Total Energy plans to begin production in early 2013 after completing building, site and equipment upgrades and be fully staffed at 200 employees by the end of 2014.”

Meridian Technology Center is working closely with the company to provide customized career training for employees in the areas of safety and welding.

Total Energy was founded by Armentano in 1992 and has operations throughout the United States. The company has more than $50 million in annual sales.

“We are on an aggressive pace to get to $100 million in the next three or four years,” said Armentano.