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German manufacturer SCHOCK will create 355 new jobs in the US

By Nagasunder in Employment News, posted October 1, 2021

Gov. Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday afternoon that SCHOCK GmbH, the developer of quartz composite sinks, will invest $85 million in Henry County to create its first American manufacturing plant jobs.

According to a statement given by the governor’s office on Tuesday, Sept. 28, SCHOCK GmbH will create 355 new jobs in Southside Virginia, which won the project over Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

According to officials, SCHOCK GmbH will occupy the Lot 8 Shell Building, a 95,500-square-foot structure encompassing 14.7 acres in Patriot Centre Industrial Park.

“We are excited to welcome SCHOCK to Virginia,” said Northam, who met with company officials in Regen, Germany, back in May. “This important European company is choosing to invest in Virginia because of our highly skilled workers and our outstanding business climate. When a global leader like SCHOCK selects Virginia as its gateway into the United States, that’s a sign that this is a great place to do business. We look forward to a successful partnership for many years to come.”

SCHOCK was purportedly founded in Germany in 1924, and the quartz composite sink was invented in 1979. This prominent innovator has been dedicated to product development and traditional craftsmanship for over 40 years and possesses over 100 patents.

“This substantial investment and the creation of over 350 high-quality jobs is a tremendous economic boost for Henry County and the entire region,” Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball said. “Martinsville-Henry County has made a commitment to infrastructure, education, and workforce in the region, and we are confident the company will benefit from these efforts. We welcome SCHOCK to the Commonwealth and thank the company for this major investment”.

According to authorities. Within its product lines CRISTALITE and CRISTADUR, the firm offers a diverse product portfolio that includes over 200 sink models in over 40 colors. This includes the CRISTADUR GREEN Line sinks, which are 99 percent natural, renewable, or recycled raw materials.

“For SCHOCK, this expansion is very special—it’s our first production site outside Germany,” said SCHOCK’s CEO, Ralf Boberg. “The facility will serve the strongest growth market for our product category and allow us to meet the demand for colored kitchen sinks with local ‘Made in the USA’ products. We are thrilled to have found the ideal location in Henry County. As an industrial business hub, the region has a well-qualified and dedicated workforce—one of the key success factors for us as a company—and its geographic location and interregional infrastructure are perfect for our needs.”

SCHOCK’s first phase of operations is scheduled to take five years to complete. During this time, the company will create the manufacturing capabilities to produce quartz composite kitchen sinks in their new Henry County headquarters. “SCHOCK is an absolutely perfect fit for Henry County,” Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams said. “We are excited to have SCHOCK join the county’s corporate community and look forward to what the future will bring.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation worked together to secure the project for Virginia.

Northam also authorized a $1.7 million contribution from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, managed by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, also qualifies the company for state subsidies.

“I am pleased to see that SCHOCK has selected the Patriot Centre Industrial Park in Henry County for its first U.S. manufacturing operation,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith. “The jobs projected to come to the Martinsville-Henry County area over the next several years will be a great contribution to the community. I congratulate Governor Northam’s office and all the state and local leaders that helped make this happen.”

According to Northam’s office, the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a workforce effort launched by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership in conjunction with the Virginia Community College System and other higher education partners, would support SCHOCK’s employment development.

Source: WFXRtv.com