Elkamet Expansion Brings 25 Jobs to Henderson County | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

German manufacturer will invest $6.5 million at East Flat Rock facility

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) today announced that Elkamet Inc. will expand its manufacturing site in Henderson County. The company intends to add 25 workers at its East Flat Rock facility over the coming three years, investing $6.5 million.

    "Quality-minded manufacturers from around the world continue to turn to North Carolina and its renown business climate," said Governor McCrory. "Elkamet is adding 25 employees at its Henderson County facility, which speaks highly of the company's experience here in North Carolina."

    Since Governor McCrory entered office in January of 2013, North Carolina's economy has generated more than 300,000 net new jobs.

    Elkamet Inc. is the U.S. unit of Elkamet Kunstofftechnik GmbH, a family-owned company headquartered in Biedenkopf, Germany. Elkamet specializes in manufacturing custom rotational molded plastics, such as hydraulic oil tanks, as well as finishing extruded products, like windshield profiles.

    The facility in East Flat Rock, the company's only plant outside Europe, opened in 2007 and currently employs 108 workers. Products made in Elkamet's East Flat Rock facility can be found in finished goods made by Ford, Volkswagen, and Caterpillar.

    "Our state's productive workforce, competitive cost-structure and connections to major markets will continue to support Elkamet's growth strategy," said Secretary Skvarla. "The company's success speaks to all the assets and amenities that make North Carolina the Southeast's No. 1 state for manufacturing jobs."

    The 25 new positions at Elkamet will include machine operators, skilled laborers and supervisors. The company's expanded workforce will create an annual payroll impact of nearly $790,000 for the local economy.

    "The growth Elkamet has experienced over the last five years is certainly due, in part, to the local support we continue to receive from the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, the State of North Carolina and the qualified pool of those seeking employment from which we pull to build our fine team," said Elkamet Plant Manager Brent Coston. "Having been born and raised in Henderson County, it is great to be a part of something that will benefit the people of this county."

    Elkamet's expansion was made possible in part by a performance-based grant of up to $35,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for grant funds. All One NC grants require a local government match.

    "It is exciting that this global manufacturer will add jobs and investment to its location in Henderson County," said N.C. Senator Chuck Edwards. "Elkamet continues to show confidence that western North Carolina is an ideal place for business. This is yet another example of the progress our state has made to build a business friendly environment that enables and entices economic growth. I am confident the best is still ahead."

    "I appreciate Elkamet's important expansion as well as the 25 new jobs it brings to Henderson County," said N.C. Representative Chris Whitmire. "I congratulate this valued member of our manufacturing community for the success that has led to this latest wave of growth."

    Numerous state and local allies worked with N.C. Commerce and EDPNC in supporting Elkamet's expansion. They include the North Carolina General Assembly, Henderson County and the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov