A $13 million blow molding and injection molding project is expected to create 32 new jobs in South Carolina.
The newly built location, scheduled to come online early next year, will become the first manufacturing site in the United States for CurTec Nederland BV, a Rijen, Netherlands-based company.
CurTec, a maker of drums, pails and jars, will open a new location in Oconee County that's expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2023, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. CurTec serves the pharmaceutical, special chemical and food ingredient markets.
"By starting manufacturing in the U.S., CurTec is taking the next step in strengthening our market position, increasing our service level to new and existing customers and decreasing the carbon footprint of our operations," CEO Bart van Berkel said in a statement.
The manufacturing site in the Oconee Industrial & Technology Park is the first for CurTec outside of the company's home country and initially measure 33,000 square feet. This includes room for future growth, the company said.
"Over the past years, we have seen a strong increase in demand for high performance packaging by pharmaceutical, specialty chemicals and food ingredients customers in North America," Berkel said.
Company officials traveled to the United States in December to finalize the location, but CurTec is only now revealing the expansion plans.
"The project is making strong progress as we are in the final stages of both civil and structural designs for the facility. The machines and molds are already on order," Project Director Steve Verschaeve said in a statement.
CurTec wants to have construction completed by the beginning of 2023 and production starting in the spring.
The new jobs will be added over a five-year period, according to the state.