Investment in Lexington, North Carolina

EGGER Group, based in St. Johann in Tyrol, Austria, is a leading international wood-based materials manufacturer. Founded in 1961 by Fritz Egger, the family-owned company has 18 production plants with approximately 9,000 employees worldwide.

Customers include those in the furniture, wood distribution, building and do-it-yourself industries. EGGER generated a consolidated turnover of around €2.38 billion ($2.96 billion) in the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

EGGER products are found in many areas of private and public life, including: kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, offices, hotels and shops. We manufacture a full range of products for furniture, interior design, wood construction and wood-based flooring (laminate, cork and design flooring).

EGGER is the global leader in decorative surfaces using wood-based materials, and has developed a complete range of products and cutting-edge designs. All products are made from renewable resource wood, making them naturally CO2-neutral and environmentally friendly.

The 18 existing EGGER facilities are located in Europe: Austria, Germany, France, Great Britain, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Argentina.

The Lexington, North Carolina, facility will be the company’s first manufacturing plant in the U.S. This facility will be a state-of-the-art particleboard manufacturing plant with the best available technology. EGGER also has a distribution center near Detroit, Michigan, which opened in late 2017. The sales office has already been moved to Lexington, North Carolina.

The proposed 15-year development plan includes the creation of 400 jobs by 2022, and – based on market conditions – an additional 370 jobs in the consecutive phases, for a total of 770 jobs. The multi-phased project has an overall planned investment of $700 million. The first phase of the project will have an investment outlay of $300 million toward the development of the facility for particleboard production and lamination (TFL).

We will prepare the recruitment process for the plant in Lexington, North Carolina, once the permission procedures are at a further stage. For the latest information on U.S. job opportunities, please visit www.egger.com/jobs.

There will be a range of positions available at various levels within the facility in departments including operations, engineering, finance, IT, human resources and logistics, among others.

Some positions may have minimum education requirements, but many will be apprenticeship opportunities that will include extensive EGGER-provided training.

EGGER is also highly committed to its workforce, and will invest in training and development to ensure ongoing success and growth within the company.

While compensation will vary by position, average salaries for the new jobs will be higher than Davidson County’s current average annual wage of $36,836, resulting in a competitive advantage aimed at recruiting impressive, qualified candidates to serve in the new facility.

As with our other facilities worldwide, EGGER will provide a comprehensive training program for all employees so they learn and acquire the skills they will need to work and succeed in this state-of-the-art manufacturing plant. This includes trainings related to occupational health and safety in the workplace. In the first stage of the functioning of our facility, training sessions will be conducted by experienced personnel, including supervisors, from other EGGER plants.

EGGER continuously invests in employees and offers fair, stable and long-term employment opportunities. Moreover, the company greatly values individual development options and offers attractive career opportunities.

EGGER employees are very satisfied with the workplace provided and are loyal to the company. In the latest employee opinion survey, 80 percent of staff said that they were proud to work for EGGER. Additionally, EGGER offers competitive, market-based salaries, providing a competitive advantage to recruit impressive, qualified candidates and promoting Davidson County as a booming job market.

EGGER is committed to a collaborative, cohesive and transparent relationship with the local community.
We operate 18 manufacturing facilities worldwide, and at each location, we have the trust and support of the local community. This trust exists not only because of the opportunities and economic benefits EGGER has brought to each region, but because we listen to and address the concerns of the people who live around our facilities worldwide and take into account the local cultural sensitivities and norms.

The facility will contribute to the regional economy through the purchase of wood byproducts from sawmills in and around the state, and through work with a range of local suppliers for additional services. EGGER’s presence in Davidson County will also provide training and education for local employees, and provide business opportunities for companies in construction and allied businesses during the development and construction phase. Land owners and loggers who search for a market for their pulpwood logs in the area will also benefit.

The proposed 15-year development plan includes the creation of 400 jobs in the first phase by 2022, and – based on market conditions – an additional 370 jobs for the consecutive phases, for a grand total of 770 jobs with a multiplier of 1.5 jobs per job created through EGGER. The project will grow the state’s economy by an estimated $1 billion.

The multi-phased project has an overall planned investment of $700 million. The first phase of the project will have an investment outlay of $300 million toward the development of the facility for particleboard production and lamination (TFL), and the creation of 400 jobs.

EGGER will only improve upon and provide greater access to the manufacturing offerings that already exist within the region. Its investment in the U.S. will provide market diversification in the region and state. The facility will contribute to the regional economy through the purchase of wood byproducts from sawmills in and around the state, and through work with a range of local suppliers for additional services. Land owners and loggers who search for a market for their pulpwood logs in the area will also benefit.

EGGER will also cooperate with a range of suppliers for its business operations, including transportation, hospitality and more.

Construction for this 15-year development plan is expected to start at the end of 2018, subject to various approvals and permits, and production is slated to begin in 2020.

We are committed to contributing to the local community and economy by working with local suppliers and businesses. If you are interested in working with EGGER, please reach out to info-lex@egger.com.