China-based Uniquetex LLC — a producer of nonwoven fabrics for the medical and healthcare industries — has announced plans to build a plant in Grover, N.C., which is in Cleveland County The investment totaling $31.6 million will create a workforce of 150 over the next five years at Uniquetex’s first U.S.-based plant. The average salary at $36,313 per year will slightly exceed the average wage in Cleveland County.
Uniquetex is a joint venture between Foshan Nanhai Beautiful Nonwoven Co. Ltd. and Wenzhou Chaolong Textile Machinery Co. Ltd., both based in China.
“We are extremely excited to start up our first U.S. operations in Cleveland County, N.C.,” said Benny Deng, CEO and president, Uniquetex. “The combination of a skilled workforce, access for quality transportation infrastructure and the pro-business attitude of the community is what attracted us here.”
The investment was aided by a One North Carolina Fund grant of up to $800,000. In addition, many state and local agencies provided support to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) and N.C. Commerce during the process including the N.C. General Assembly, N.C. Community College System, Cleveland County, Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership and Gardner Webb University.
“Textile manufacturing is one of North Carolina’s greatest traditional industries, and it is still growing,” said N.C. Governor Pat McCrory. “Our state is the ideal destination for globally-positioned, innovation-driven textile companies like Uniquetex.”
March/April 2016
