Oracal announced a significant expansion will begin this summer at its Black Creek headquarters.
The company, which is the U.S.-based partner of Orafol International, said the $20 million U.S. operations expansion will include the addition of a new warehouse facility and an additional adhesive coating line, according to a press release from the Bryan County Development Authority.
"We are extremely pleased about this information and look forward to more jobs coming to Bryan County as a result of this expansion," DA Executive Director Jean Bacon said.
The contractor selection for the expansion is still underway and Oracal is working to get all the plans ready in order to start bidding out the jobs, said VP of Marketing David Grant on Tuesday.
"The company’s upcoming plant expansion should have a positive effect on the local economy by providing multiple opportunities for area contractors and jobseekers," said Oracal USA president, Randy Mertz.
Mertz said Oracal is "committed to utilizing qualified local contractors whenever possible for all related project work," including steel erection, masonry, HVAC, concrete, electrical and plumbing.
"Since this work is being subcontracted, it is impossible to accurately predict how many jobs this will create at this time," he said. "Project bid packages are currently being assembled by Oracal USA. When this process is complete, information on work open for competitive bids will be made available to the Development Authority, and directly to interested parties who may email requests to info@oracal.com."
Once the expansion is complete, Mertz expects the company will likely add up to nine new warehouse and production positions during 2009, with additional hires likely to happen as the company continues to grow and expand.
According to Oracal CEO Holger Loclair, construction for the project will start this month, with completion expected by early 2009.
The additional warehouse facility will add approximately 92,000 square-feet of warehouse space to the company’s existing 260,000 square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in the Interstate Center industrial park.
"We’re extremely encouraged with the growth we’ve experienced since dedicating the first phase of our U.S. manufacturing facility in 2006," Loclair said in the release. "Our latest expansion plans reflect the ongoing confidence our distributors and end-users have shown in our products, as well as our own expectations for continued growth in all of our markets."
Oracal manufactures and markets a technologically advanced line of vinyl PSA graphic films, digital media and laminating films used in signage, screen-printing and digital printing applications.
Its market area includes North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information, call 1-888-672-2251 or visit www.oracal.com.