Austrian Company to Build Particle Board Factory in N.C.

July 26, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Business Strategy, Industry   

The new factory, to be built in an industrial park near the town of Linwood, N.C., will be constructed in three phases spread out over 12 years. The company said the first phase will cost about $300 million, take about six years to complete, and add about 400 jobs.

Egger officials described the facility as a state-of-the-art particle board plant that will eventually employ about 770 people.

“Having our own production facility in North America is vital for Egger to tap into the market and become a significant player for the growing demand in the U.S. for wood-based materials,” said Walter Schiegl, Egger’s chief technology officer and member of the executive board. “Our sales activities in the U.S. have already proved our product range is highly attractive for architects, designers, wholesalers and industry customers.

“With the Davidson County production site, we will be able to enhance our customer relationships, ensuring product availability and speed of delivery. Our goal is to position ourselves as the leading brand for wood-based solutions in the U.S., as we are already in Europe.”

A family-owned company based in Tyrol, Austria, Egger Group currently operates 17 plants and 25 sales offices worldwide, providing a wide range of wood-based products. The company said it is the global leader in decorative surfaces on wood-based materials and has developed a complete range of products and cutting-edge designs.

“Furniture manufacturing is part of North Carolina’s legacy, and our top-flight workforce gives Egger an edge as they enter the U.S. marketplace,” said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “North Carolina offers international manufacturing companies everything they need to succeed, including strong infrastructure, proximity to suppliers and customers, and skilled, trainable workers.”