ILC Dover opens new plant, brings jobs

Known for making spacesuits for NASA, ILC Dover celebrated the grand opening of its new plant in Seaford; a venture that brings with it 115 new jobs.

Frederica-based ILC Dover is in the process of hiring employees who will work at Grayling Industries’ 90,000 square foot facility in Sussex County. ILC Dover purchased Grayling last December to complement its flexible containment products for the pharmaceutical industry.

Grayling Industries manufactures industrial packaging products and environmental safety products, things like disposable decontamination showers and glove bags for asbestos abatement projects. The Seaford plant will produce the shower enclosures and liners for handling dry powders in bulk.

“These new jobs, at this new plant, usher in a new day for the city of Seaford and all of Sussex County,” Gov. Jack Markell, D-Del., said. “ILC Dover must be applauded for bringing these jobs here from Mexico and not only doing right by Delaware, but also helping our country continue to pull business back home.”

The new facility’s production lines and the equipment to operate them are in the process of being moved from Juarez, Mexico, to Seaford. While Grayling’s manufacturing operations are moving to Delaware, the subsidiary’s offices will remain in Alpharetta, Ga.Fifty employees are working the first production line from Juarez in a 60,000 square foot production facility. A neighboring 30,000 square foot finished goods warehouse is still under construction.

ILC Dover Chief Executive Officer William Wallach said Tuesday’s grand opening is an example of how industry and government can work together in a way that allows for new jobs to be created.

“We are very excited today about the official opening of the new Grayling manufacturing facility in Seaford. Grayling Industries appreciates all of the assistance that has been provided by state and local officials to get this new manufacturing facility started,” Wallach said.

As part of the agreement to move Grayling’s manufacturing operations to Delaware, ILC Dover received a $364,500 grant from the state for creating 115 new full-time positions, as well as a $187,860 capital expenditures grant, or a 3 percent match on qualified capital expenditures up to and including $6,262,000.