SOUTH PORTLAND – South Portland-based Allagash International, a manufacturer of industrial and commercial valves, has opened an office in Caracas, Venezuela.

The company, named the 2013 Maine Exporter of the Year by the Small Business Administration, will hire four employees for the Venezuela location, complementing an operation it has had in Bogota, Colombia, for several years.

“This office in Caracas reflects the company’s efforts to continue to expand its operations outside of the United States to support the export trade,” read a Sept. 20 press release issued by Allagash president Terry Ingram, who founded the company in 2002 from his Falmouth home as a valve and actuator distributor.

Initially focused on the paper and pulp industries, Allagash has since grown into the oil and gas, clean water and wastewater fields. In 2010, it purchased a line of established control valves from DeZurik Inc. and became an original equipment manufacturer.

“We actually looked at expanding in Portland first, but there was only one place that was big enough for us – the Maine State Pier,” said Ingram, at the time. “We actually made an offer, but Portland didn’t want us there. They said we’re not marine-related. But everyone here in South Portland was absolutely great to work with.”

The Allagash International manufacturing plant at 1 Madison St. in South Portland, which the company took over in February after relocating from a longtime location in Portland.