Ceramics supplier to invest $5 million, create approximately 30 jobs
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Colorobbia USA, Inc. officials announced today that the ceramics supplier will invest $5 million to establish operations in Cookeville.
Colorobbia USA plans to build a 50,000-square-foot facility that includes distribution functions and a technical assistance laboratory. The Putnam County facility is expected to be operational in January 2019, creating approximately 30 jobs over the next five years.
“I’d like to welcome Colorobbia USA to Tennessee and thank the company for its investment in Putnam County,” Rolfe said. “Over the last few years, the ceramic industry in Tennessee has experienced considerable growth. We are encouraged to see Colorobbia USA join the growing ranks of ceramic companies that call Tennessee home.”
Colorobbia USA is part of Gruppo Colorobbia, an Italian company and global leader in the ceramic and glass industries. Established in 1921, Gruppo Colorobbia is a family-owned company headquartered in the province of Vinci, Italy. It has more than 2,000 employees and operates in 18 different countries.
Gruppo Colorobbia’s products include glazes, frits, pigments and ceramic inks for the ceramic tile and glass industries. The company also produces precious metals and a line of products for artistic ceramics.
“Our growth expectations and job creation plan are directly linked to the ceramic industry growth,” Arturo Salazar, president of Colorobbia USA, said. “We expect to start operations with the first stage of the project in the beginning of 2019. The increase of porcelain tile production in Tennessee through new production plants has opened the opportunity for our company to the possibility of this project. This plant will allow us to offer world-class technical service to clients.
“Being close to our clients is a fundamental rock of Gruppo Colorobbia’s philosophy. With this investment, we will be able to offer quality products and technical assistance services to the North American market,” Salazar added. “Cookeville offers high-quality human resources for the different aspects of our project, from the more technical to the direct production force. The selection of Cookeville was based on different criteria such as the quality of life, human resources and its strategic geographical location with respect to our clients.”
Local officials praised Colorobbia USA for selecting Cookeville for its new operations.
“This is a special day for Putnam County,” Putnam County Executive Randy Porter said. “Our team has been working with Colorobbia USA for the past three years on this project and today makes it a reality. I’d like to thank Colorobbia USA for its commitment to invest in Putnam County.”
“Cookeville is proud to be the new home of Gruppo Colorobbia’s U.S. operations and we look forward to a long and prosperous partnership,” Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said. “Gruppo Colorobbia’s long history of quality products, commitment to research and development, and a vision for the future of the industry exemplifies everything we hope to see in the Highlands Business Park.”
Cookeville and Putnam County are represented by Sen. Paul Bailey (R – Sparta), Rep. Ryan Williams (R – Cookeville) and Rep. Cameron Sexton (R – Crossville) in the Tennessee General Assembly.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
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