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The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce announced today that Lenzing Group approved an expansion of its production facility in Axis that, when complete in 2019, will increase its workforce with 163 new jobs.
“This expansion in TENCEL® fiber capacity represents a unique milestone in the history of the Axis facility and for the Lenzing Group. The investment of $293 million is part of our strategic growth program sCoreTEN announced a year ago. It underscores our commitment to all customers and consumers who want to make a positive impact as our TENCEL® fiber is recognized as world’s most sustainable botanic fiber for fashion and nonwoven products,” explained Lenzing Chief Commercial Officer Robert van de Kerkhof.
“This type of foreign direct investment and the addition of these high-wage jobs is yet another example of our manufacturing growth that continues to outpace the national rate. The commitment from Lenzing to locate the facility at the Mobile site demonstrates our area’s success in locating large economic development projects,” said Troy Wayman, vice president of economic development for the Mobile Area Chamber.
“The expansion will more than double current TENCEL® production in Axis, making it the largest production site in the world with a total capacity of 140,000 tons annually. We are very proud to have in Axis the first generation production site and now the most advanced, state-of-the-art facility in the same location,” said Kevin Allen, site manager of the Mobile facility.
“Austria’s Lenzing is an innovative manufacturer with a longtime presence in Mobile County, Alabama, the home of its only U.S. production facility,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “This significant new investment in its Mobile County operation will not only create jobs but also strengthen the partnership we have forged together over the years.”
“This project is significant for Mobile County because it represents the fruits of our labor in expanding our manufacturing sector,” said Merceria Ludgood, president of the Mobile County Commission. The project is located in her district. “The county has experienced a 31 percent boost in manufacturing from 2010 to 2015. Our region is a federally designated manufacturing community. Our high schools and community colleges offer specialized advanced manufacturing training. This announcement means jobs will be available right here in our county, keeping our best and brightest right here at home.”
So what is TENCEL? Here’s a great link to a video explaining more about this useful product: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQIw6Ljb4S0
Want to learn more about Mobile’s ever-growing manufacturing and chemical sectors:
Facts & Figures
Source: Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s Research Division