RockTenn opens doors to renovated factory in Marion

MARION, N.C. — RockTenn executives and local officials proudly cut the ribbon Thursday and opened the doors for the company’s newly renovated and expanded plant, which is located at the old Swift Galey site.

Ten months ago, Gov. Bev Perdue joined executives from RockTenn and local officials at the Marion Depot to announce that the maker of corrugated and consumer packaging and recycling solutions would expand its operations in Marion and add new jobs. The RockTenn facility for Marion would move out of its building in downtown Marion and relocate to the old Swift Galey building on U.S. 70 East, which has 300,000 square feet. RockTenn announced it would create 124 new jobs and invest $23 million into the old Swift Galey site.

After purchasing the empty building and investing millions of dollars into its renovation, RockTenn held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Thursday for the totally modern plant.

“This is a great day, not only for this plant and for RockTenn, but for this community,” said General Manager Steve Harrell.

Based in Norcross, Ga., RockTenn is a leading producer of corrugated and consumer packaging products, serving a broad range of market segments, in particular cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, food and household goods. Among other products, the local RockTenn facility makes the chicken nugget boxes for all the Chick-fil-A stores across the nation.

RockTenn’s plant in Marion used to be Etta Packaging. Two long-time employees, Archie Cook and Lester Welch, helped RockTenn’s executives cut the ribbon. Cook has worked 41 years with the company while Welch has been there for more than 43.

“We have seen a tremendous change in this place,” said Cook.

The company invested in new machinery and made major upgrades to the old Swift Galey building.

“The technology here is really unmatched anywhere in the country,” said Jim Rubright, chairman and CEO of RockTenn, to the employees and local officials. “I am very grateful and I congratulate you on the tremendous success you’ve had.”

Rubright said the company has gotten a $5 million contract with Hershey.

The project was made possible in part by a $372,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. The county matched this grant, dollar for dollar, and worked with RockTenn to make this expansion possible.

“We worked on this for three years,” said County Manager Chuck Abernathy. “We really appreciate the work Steve (Harrell) did in taking the leadership.”

Abernathy, who is also the county’s economic development director, said the newly renovated and updated plant “looks absolutely outstanding.”

Commission Chairman David Walker said RockTenn could have gone elsewhere for this expansion. He asked all the RockTenn employees gathered inside the plant to give themselves a hand in working hard to make this possible.

“As far as the county is concerned, this is the oldest, longest active manufacturing company in McDowell County,” said Walker. “They could have moved the location anywhere. They have invested in machinery and equipment and created over 100 jobs.”

Butch Justice, chairman of the McDowell Economic Development Association board, said every business in the county benefits from this expansion. “I am hoping this will allow them to expand their operations even more,” he said, adding RockTenn’s employees have a good work ethic.

Mayor Steve Little said the city is proud to have RockTenn as one of its industries because of its commitment to employee safety and producing quality products.

“This is such a fantastic day,” he said.

Little added he would still like to see RockTenn move its corporate headquarters from Norcross, Ga. to here.

After a lunch, RockTenn representatives led officials on a tour of the new plant.

Meanwhile, the old 110,000-square-foot RockTenn building at 33 Burgin St. could find a new tenant.

Abernathy said the county is now working with another company that is interested in taking over the building in the downtown. He added this company has not moved toward finalizing the purchase. If it happens, the new owner would create around 30 to 50 new jobs.

WSOC