Laufen to locate new import warehouse, distribution facility here

Staff

Published Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Suffolk News-Herald

The city's Department of Economic Development is closing out 2003 with news that an international ceramic tile manufacturer will open a regional distribution center near downtown Suffolk next month.

Laufen Ceramic Tile is leasing 92,000 square feet of space at Commonwealth Storage Buildings for its new East Coast distribution facility, said Tom O'Grady, the city's director of economic development. The Spain-based company will be investing $1 million in the project.

Laufen will use the facility for importing, warehousing and distributing its ceramic tile products. The company, which will start off with six employees, is planning to have the warehouse fully functional for shipments by Jan. 12.

Laufen's new Suffolk site will allow the company to enhance its inventory management and speed up order processing, while expediting product delivery and giving the company the ability to increase truckload processing, O'Grady said.

The Laufen announcement is one of several that have made 2003 a banner year for economic development in Suffolk. O'Grady is estimating that the city has brought in $111,000 in new commercial investments over the past year.

One of the year's most promising announcements came in October, when Lockheed Martin Co.'s announced plans to build and operate a computer-based modeling, simulation, and integration center in Bridgeway Commerce Park. Through a $30 million investment, Lockheed Martin will create 50 jobs with above-average salaries for the city and the region over the next three years.

Lockheed Martin technical experts at the new Global Vision Integration Center will collaborate with customers, industry partners, and colleagues across Lockheed Martin to develop, visualize, and demonstrate complex operational system solutions.

Located on Interstate 664 near the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center and the U.S. Joint Forces Command Joint Warfighting and Experimentation Centers, Lockheed Martin's new 50,000-square-foot, hexagon-shaped office building will become a new icon for high-technology development in the state.

Other major business coups of the year include:

nThe grand opening of the Target Corp.'s new 1.5 million-square-foot import distribution center near the intersection of U.S. Route 58 and Manning Bridge Road.

The $65 million facility, which opened on July 30, serves as the company's intermediary from the Port of Virginia to other major distribution centers. The Suffolk site routes products to seven of Target's 14 regional distribution centers throughout the eastern United States.

nAlso in July, TowneBank dedicated its new $10 million, 60,000-square-foot member service center located at the River Front at Harbour View in Suffolk.

The new state-of-the-art facility was built to operate at a maximum capacity of $1.5 billion in assets and will house operations, electronic banking, technology, loan services, deposit services, audit services, risk management, executive offices, human resources and marketing.

The facility will also process the bank's checks, deposits and cash wire services.

No public banking services will be available at the new Suffolk center, but the site includes enough space for a future 5,500-square-foot branch.

nThe July groundbreaking of Trindco's new 25,000-square-foot office and manufacturing headquarters in Suffolk Industrial Park. The company, which manufactures high end countertop surfacing materials, is investing $1.5 million in the building and another $1 million in computerized fabrication equipment. O'Grady is optimistic that the city will have continued success in the economic development arena in 2004.

"I feel like next year will kick off strong with new announcements," O'Grady said. "We are hoping to have announcements on two new businesses going into Northgate Commerce and Suffolk Industrial parks within the first quarter of 2004."

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