Ink Supplier Expanding Operations in Burke County

Statement

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Siegwerk EIC LLC, a leading supplier of printing ink for packaging and publications, will expand its operations in Burke County. The company projects creating 18 jobs and investing $3 million over the next three years in Morganton. The project was made possible in part by a $36,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

"Creating jobs has long been my top priority," said Gov. Perdue. "North Carolina's favorable business climate and our customized job training programs help manufacturers thrive and grow."

Siegwerk EIC is a subsidiary of the Siegwerk Group, which is the third largest producer of printing inks for packaging worldwide. Siegwerk EIC was started in Morganton in 1979. The company's Morganton facility is its primary manufacturing hub for water and energy cure technologies and currently employs more than 110 people.

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual payroll for the new jobs will be more than $420,000, plus benefits.

"Siegwerk's Morganton operation is the centerpiece of our Narrow Web strategy. Siegwerk is committed to creating a state-of-the-art technical development, manufacturing and distribution operation in Morganton," said Jim Stoelk, president of Siegwerk's Labels Division in the U.S. and Canada. "The hard-working labor force, along with outstanding support from local and state government, makes this a win-win for everyone involved."

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.

"This expansion is good news for Burke County," said Rep. Hugh Blackwell of Burke County. "We've worked hard to provide the skilled workforce that companies like Siegwerk need to succeed."

North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue's JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.

Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 65,000 jobs and $12 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Burke County and the City of Morganton.

Source