SPF North America Inc. announces expansion in Greenwood County
November 24, 2009
November 23, 2009 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Greenwood Partnership Alliance today announced that SPF North America Inc., a manufacturer of pet food palatability enhancers, will expand its operations in Greenwood County. The $10 million investment is expected to generate 50 new jobs.
“We are pleased to move forward with our expansion plans for our Hodges facility. Demand for our products continues to grow. Greenwood County has provided us with an excellent business environment and a skilled workforce, so growing our South Carolina operation was an easy choice. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Dave Berry, CEO of SPF North America Inc.
SPF North America opened its facility in Greenwood County in 2007. The expansion will allow the company to consolidate some manufacturing operations into its Greenwood County operations, as well as add research and development functionalities to its facility.
“In 2007, SPF North America made its initial investment in South Carolina and the fact that the company is already expanding its operations here is excellent news. SPF North America’s decision grow in Greenwood County is truly a positive reflection on our state’s business-friendly climate, skilled workforce and exceptional market access. We congratulate SPF on its success in our state, and look forward to its continued growth in the years to come,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
“SPF North America located in Greenwood County because of the proximity to both customers and suppliers in the East and Southeast,” said Mark Warner, Executive Director of the Partnership Alliance. “We congratulate SPF on their success, and we think this again proves that Greenwood County is the right location for any company that desires to make their mark in the Southeast.”
The new jobs will be skilled, technical and management positions. Recruitment will begin in 2010 and SPF will work with local employment agencies and educational institutions to fill these positions.
SPF is the worldwide leader in the manufacture of pet food palatability enhancers. The company is a division of the international group Diana Ingredients, a global supplier of natural ingredients for a number of niche markets in the food, pharmaceutical and pet-food industries. For more information please visit www.spf-diana.com.
NIH funds research projects at Genetic Center
November 9, 2009
Greenwood Genetic Center has received two grants from the National Institutes of Health to continue and expand its participation in a network of scientists nationwide studying rare genetic diseases.
The research done by 19 groups of researchers will explore the natural history, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of more than 95 rare diseases.
Rare diseases are defined as diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 persons in the United States. About 6,500 such disorders have been identified.
The Greenwood Genetic Center has participated in NIH-sponsored research on rare diseases since 2003. Dr. Steven Skinner has led the Genetic Center’s efforts.
Skinner’s team has focused on two projects. Study of the natural history of Rett syndrome, an autism disorder that affects girls, is the larger of the two projects. More than 800 girls are enrolled.
The second project is a treatment trial for Angelman syndrome, a genetic disorder with features of autism and intellectual disability affecting both boys and girls. More than 150 children are participating in the Angelman treatment trial.
Beginning this year, Dr. Sara Cathey will lead the Center’s collaboration with a second group to conduct clinical research in a different group of genetic disorders known as lysosomal diseases. Cathey will focus on the natural history of a subset of lysosomal diseases called the glycoproteinoses.
The glycoproteinoses include nine different rare genetic disorders. Individuals affected by these progressive, disabling diseases have shortened lifespans. Natural history studies are crucial for improving diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
Fujifilm transfers QuickSnap recycling operations to Greenwood
November 9, 2009
Fujifilm announced that it is moving the recycling operation for its QuickSnap cameras and the Waterproof QuickSnap camera assembly and packaging operations from a facility in Mexico to the Greenwood, SC, campus.
“By transferring these functions to our Greenwood campus, we will have better control of our recycled parts stream as well as our recycled parts cost, and we will reduce transportation costs,” said Shin Kataoka, president, FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. “It also means that the entire production and recycling operations for global QuickSnap production will be located here in Greenwood.” The relocation of the QuikSnap recycling operation is expected to create approximately 30 new jobs in Greenwood.
Fujifilm estimates that approximately 60% of the QuickSnap cameras sold make it back to the recycling center; the recycling operations will be handling approximately 1.5 million cameras a month. The Greenwood facility already produces QuickSnap cameras for the global market and with the transfer of the recycling and assembly operations, the Greenwood facility will be the global hub for the entire QuickSnap camera product life-cycle.
“This is yet more great news for Fujifilm and more great news for Greenwood. Fujifilm’s decision to bring its camera recycling operations to Greenwood further expands the company’s presence in our state and this announcement is another sign that our business-friendly climate and market access are helping existing businesses continue to grow. We are pleased to see Fujifilm make another investment in South Carolina and we wish them much success in their endeavors,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
“Fujifilm is an innovation-driven company that has a proven history of sustainable growth and success in Greenwood County,” said Robbie Templeton, Greenwood County Council Chairman. “Implementing a more efficient recycling process is not only a win for Fujifilm and its employees, but the Greenwood community and society at large.”
Fujifilm invented the one-time-use camera, which is often mistakenly thought of as “disposable,” when in fact, excluding the batteries; over 99% of these cameras (by weight) are reused or recycled. The Fujifilm QuickSnap brand has served as a model for inverse manufacturing technology and materials recycling since its introduction in 1986. Since then millions of one-time-use cameras have been reclaimed through Fujifilm’s QuickSnap recycling program, preventing thousands of tons of waste from entering landfills.
Fujifilm has implemented a range of measures around the world with the objective of contributing to sustainable development by designing products that take the environment into account, reducing packaging materials, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Fujifilm is the leading manufacturer of UV cured, VOC-free, and solvent-free ink jet inks. The company’s high-performance films used in flat panel displays are manufactured with plant-derived cellulose, rather than petroleum-based material; the films carry the Biomass Mark of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Fujifilm supports numerous eco-sustainability measures, including habitat and species preservation for the Giant Panda through its longstanding collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and support of public open space initiatives such as New York City’s Friends of the Highline.
