Rowan County Manufacturer to Add 103 Jobs State Grant Helps Henkel Corp. Expand in Salisbury

RALEIGH � Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Henkel Corp., an international supplier of adhesives and sealants for industrial, commercial and home use, plans to expand its Salisbury operations. The company plans to invest more than $23.7 million and to create 103 jobs during the next three years. The announcement was made possible in part by a $206,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

�North Carolina continues to support growing companies by offering a skilled workforce, nationally top-rated business climate and unparalleled quality of life,� Gov. Perdue said. �Our state is the perfect place for manufacturers to grow operations and expand their job opportunities.�

Henkel Corp. is part of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, based in Germany. Henkel has regional offices and manufacturing facilities in 75 countries, serving customers in 125 countries. Company operations include offices in Cary, Mooresville and Charlotte, and a manufacturing plant in Salisbury.

The company, which recently acquired the adhesives and electronics materials operations of National Starch and Chemical Co., plans to consolidate out-of-state operations and expand the Salisbury facility, which produces specialty label industrial adhesives and circuit board assembly adhesives. The Salisbury expansion will focus on electronics-related adhesives.

The new positions will pay an average annual wage of $54,763, not including benefits. That exceeds the Rowan County average annual wage of $34,788.

�Henkel is very pleased that we are able to move forward with this significant expansion of our Salisbury site. Previously as National Starch, and now as Henkel, we have had a long and positive relationship with the State of North Carolina, the City of Salisbury and Rowan County,� said Michael Reilly, Ph.D., Henkel vice president of global operations. �Specifically, the skill level of our Salisbury workforce has been outstanding. Our electronics industry customers require superb quality and responsiveness, and the Salisbury site has been able to meet those expectations largely as a result of our dedicated, focused and committed workforce. We look forward to further building the Salisbury team as we move forward with this project.�

The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

�During these tough economic times, it's important to make the investments we need to create jobs in North Carolina. We welcome Henkel's expansion in Rowan County, � said Rep. Lorene Coates.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 35,000 jobs and $6.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other project partners include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Rowan County, the City of Salisbury and Duke Energy.

For more information about Henkel Corp., including employment opportunities, go to: http://www.henkelna.com.