Maag Group Americas is spending millions of dollars on a new manufacturing site for its Gala line of plastics and chemical processing equipment.
The 20,000-square-foot addition in Eagle Rock, Va., currently is under construction and slated to be completed by the end of next year, Maag said.
The additional space will allow Gala to assemble and test larger systems, such as high-capacity centrifugal dryers, at the location. The company also makes underwater pelletizing systems.
"With the expansion of our facility, there is significant opportunity to drive operational improvements for our systems," said Martin Baumann, vice president and general manager of Maag Group Americas, in a statement.
The added space will allow for shorter lead times for the construction of ordered equipment, the company said.
Gala also will be able to centralize and optimize laboratory operations, including customer or product trials, pool runs and product development, the company said.
Gala operations at the site date back to 1959, and Oberglatt, Switzerland-based Maag has owned the company since 2015. Maag is owned by Dover Corp., a diversified manufacturer based in Downers Grove, Ill.
Gala employs more than 180 at the Eagle Rock location, which is increasing its space by 20 percent from 100,000 square feet.
"Gala has a very important role in providing jobs and prosperity in Botetourt County," said Richard Bailey, a county supervisor, in a statement.
The county is providing a $50,000 grant to help with the project that includes real estate and new machinery. The company described the work as a multimillion-dollar project but did not provide an exact investment amount.
