Home News German manufacturer bringing 355 jobs to Henry County

German manufacturer bringing 355 jobs to Henry County

Schock GmbH to invest $85M in new operation

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Schock GmbH North America CEO Marc Nover (left) shakes Gov. Ralph Northam's hand Sept. 28, 2021 during an announcement of the German manufacturer's plan to build an $85 million plant in Henry County.

Schock GmbH, a German quartz composite sink manufacturer, plans to build an $85 million manufacturing facility in Henry County, creating 355 jobs, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday.

Virginia competed with Florida, Georgia and North Carolina for the project, which will occupy a 95,500-square-foot shell building on 14.7 acres in Patriot Centre Industrial Park. Northam met with company executives in May during his trade trip to Germany.

“We are excited to welcome Schock to Virginia,” Northam said in a statement. “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.”

According to the governor’s office, the new facility will be completed in phases, with the first phase — establishing the capability to produce quartz composite kitchen sinks — finished in five years. Schock invented the material in 1979 and manufactures more than 200 sink models in 40 colors within multiple product lines.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp. to secure the project for Virginia, and Northam approved a $1.7 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program will assist the company with job training at no cost to Schock.
“For Schock, this expansion is very special — it’s our first production site outside Germany,” CEO Ralf Boberg said in a statement. “The facility will serve the strongest growth market for our product category and allow us to meet 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 joins Yardley, Pennsylvania, metal packaging company Crown Holdings Inc., which is building a $145 million aluminum can manufacturing operation in Henry County, expected to create 126 jobs. That project was announced in January.
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