In keeping their desire for proximity, they have decided to build a new assembly facility in North America. As a long-standing partner for Arburg, The Polymers Center made no secret of their desire for Arburg to locate their new facility in North Carolina, given their close relationship. They quickly volunteered to help by connecting the team from Arburg with EDPNC, IES, The Charlotte Business Alliance, and the Charlotte headquarters of CBRE, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world.

On August 2^nd, the interested parties attended a meeting that brought together the following associates to contribute to the expansion conversation:

·      Rob Horton, Charlotte Business Alliance

·      Solange Tricanowicz, Business Recruitment Manager Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC

·      Jennifer D. Fielder, PhD, Regional Manager, North Carolina State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)

·      Frank Larsen, First Vice President, Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE

·      Ben Lucas, Associate, Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE

·      Compie Newman President of the Charlotte Office, CBRE

·      Philip S. Shoemaker, PhD, Director, PCE

·      Bill Murphy, Technical Associate, PCE

·      Martin Baumann, President of North American Operations, Arburg

·      Guido Frohnhaus - Managing Director Technology / Operations, Arburg

·      Siegfried Finkbeiner - Manufacturing Manager, Arburg

·      Jannik Schmitt - Project Manager Oversea Plant, Arburg

·      Christine Wacker - Project Manager Internationalization, Arburg

·      Claudia McIntyre – CFO, Arburg USA

·      Scott Rains, Head of Sales, Southeastern Region-Arburg.

During the meeting, the Arburg group had the opportunity to discuss available locations, the local workforce, transportation services, tax incentives, and the advantages that North Carolina offers in quality of life. The Polymers Center was happy to facilitate the exchange of information and looks forward to the next step in the process in the hope that they may one day welcome Arburg to North Carolina.