CARY – Privately held LORD Corp.,  the technology and manufacturing company focusing on adhesives, coatings, motion management devices, and sensor technology, is going to invest $80 million in a sizable expansion of a plant in Saegertown, Pa.

Doug Lorenz, president of LORD’s Performance Materials Global Business, tells WRAL TechWire that the investment reflects the international company’s increasing strength.

“LORD is continuing to grow along with our global customer base,” he explained  “The expansion is to support our growing LORD adhesive and coating product lines.

“We now manufacture 350 different formulations sold to customers across the U.S., as well as exported around the world. Materials made in Saegertown end up used in production of most passenger vehicles built throughout the world. “

The expansion will take place over the next five years.

Lorenz said LORD considered multiple locations for the investment, but not North Carolina. Not that the Cary operations have been ignored, he pointed out.

Doug Lorenz. Photo courtesy LORD Corp.)

“We have recently upgraded our laboratories and work space in Cary,” he explained.

“We do not have a manufacturing facility on our Cary campus, so Cary was not considered for this expansion.”

Overall, he said several reasons made Saegertown the place to grow.

“We considered sites in Huntsville, AL; Rochester, NY; and multiple sites in OH,” Lorenz said.

“The decision was made to remain in Saegertown and expand because it is our flagship manufacturing facility, and because of the quality and skillset of our team members at the site.”

As for leading to additional jobs in Cary, Lorenz responded: “It’s too soon to predict job growth related to the expansion, but we are excited about the possibilities it brings across the company.”

The investment in Saegertown includes:

  • Plant modernization
  • Expansion of “various” adhesive and coating products
  • Adding 75,000 square feet of space to an existing 250,000 square foot building

“Our LORD Saegertown facility dates back to 1962, when we began with 15 employees and a 10,000-square-foot facility,” Lorenz said in the announcement. “As LORD continues to grow as a global company, we are excited to expand the Saegertown facility to keep pace with the growth and needs of our customers around the world.”

LORD employs some 3,000 people across 26 countries. It operates 19 manufacturing facilities and 10 centers for research and development.