$14 million investment expected to create 159 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gov. Nikki Haley, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Bamberg County, the City of Denmark and the SouthernCarolina Alliance today announced that Masonite International Corporation, a maker of residential and commercial doors, plans to invest $14 million in expanding its operations in Bamberg County. The company expects it will have added a total of 159 new jobs by the time the new technology is fully installed.
“Investing in our Denmark facility made sense on so many levels, beginning with the great local workforce,” said Glen Coulter, executive vice president of Global Operations & Supply Chain. “It’s also conveniently located near several major interstates, near major customers and our company’s Yulee, Fla. door fabrication plant that pre-hangs doors for our Southeast retail customers.”
Masonite’s manufacturing facility in Denmark produces a line of flush and molded interior panel doors. The facility was previously owned by Lifetime Doors, a company Masonite acquired in October 2010.
“We celebrate Masonite’s decision to grow its presence in South Carolina and create 159 new jobs in Bamberg County. This announcement is another big win for one of our state’s rural areas,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
“Masonite is a world leader in the manufacture of interior doors and entry door systems. The company’s decision to grow its facility in Bamberg County not only indicates Masonite’s commitment to our state, but also indicates that South Carolina’s business-friendly climate and skilled workforce are working to attract new investments and create jobs,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.
The facility had previously operated as Lifetime Doors for more than five decades. The facility currently employs about 50 people.
“The Masonite name is synonymous with quality and value,” said SouthernCarolina Alliance Chairman Johnny Williamson. “The company will be an asset to our industrial community, and we look forward to their continued success and growth in our region of South Carolina.”
“Bamberg County welcomes Masonite, and we are proud to have this internationally recognized company manufacturing in our county,” said Bamberg County Council Chairman Clint Carter. “Every job created here affects a family, and that’s why job creation is the key to improving the quality of life in Bamberg County.”
The company is in the planning and engineering phase of the production line, and the new system is expected to be operational by early 2013.
“We are pleased that Masonite chose Denmark as the location to grow their operations in the Southeast,” said Mayor Gerald Wright of Denmark. “We believe that our workforce and our location played pivotal roles in their decision, and we will continue to work closely with the Masonite team to make them feel at home in Denmark.”
“Bamberg County and Masonite will make an outstanding team,” said SCA President Danny Black. “We are grateful to Masonite for their investment in our region, and we are grateful to our partners at the local, regional and state levels who made this project a reality, including Governor Haley and the team at the S.C. Department of Commerce, Bamberg County Council, the City of Denmark and the member counties of SCA who share the benefits of this success.”
The county will receive a $1.5 million grant approved by the Coordinating Council for Economic Development, to be issued to the county for building purchase and upfit. The county will own the building and lease it to the company. ReadySC will also provided training support to the company.
Anyone interested in job opportunities with the company should contact Marc Alexander, Regional Human Resources Manager, at [email protected].
Masonite International Corporation is a leading global manufacturer of residential and commercial doors, committed to providing the highest value building products to customers in approximately 70 countries around the world. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Masonite employs over 7,000 people worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit www.masonite.com.