ELKHART — Dometic LLC, an international manufacturer of recreational vehicle accessories, announced Tuesday morning it will expand its manufacturing operations at plants in Elkhart and LaGrange, creating more than 350 combined jobs by 2012.

Gov. Mitch Daniels joined company officials Tuesday morning in making the announcement.

The company, which makes accessories ranging from air conditioners to sanitation systems for the RV market, will invest a combined $10 million to increase production capacity at its Elkhart and LaGrange manufacturing operations, according to a news release.

That includes more than $6.8 million to move its refrigerator manufacturing operations from Sweden to Elkhart, creating 241 new jobs, and $3 million to move production from a plant in Mexico, which was lost to a fire in April, to Dometic's LaGrange facility, where it will increase manufacturing capacity of retractable RV awnings, creating 116 new jobs.

"We've never had a doubt. RVs will be back. Elkhart will be back, and will resume its place as a major center of economic strength for our state," Daniels said Tuesday morning.

The company currently employs 60 associates at its Elkhart operations and plans to begin hiring assembly, welding, maintenance and management associates immediately as the facility is prepared for production launch later in the fall, according to the news release.

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