Schmalz Inc. expanding in N.C. with $7M facility

Auxiliary equipment manufacturer Schmalz Inc., Raleigh, N.C., has broken ground on a $7 million facility to expand its operations in Raleigh. Schmalz, which supplies a range of vacuum components, including grippers, clamps and handling systems, currently operates a 20,000-square-foot plant that it purchased in 2009 and has outgrown.

"This additional investment of about $7 million in Phase I will ensure that Schmalz Inc. has enough space in order to continue to grow at its current pace. A larger Phase II expansion is not that far away," President Volker Schmitz says.

The new facility will provide room for testing and assembly of automation systems, a customer show room, training rooms and office space. Schmalz is part of J. Schmalz GmbH, Glatten, Germany, which employs about 900 worldwide.