Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that DNP IMS America Corp., a printing-technology company, will expand in Concord. The company plans to create 37 jobs and invest $24.8 million during the next three years. The project was made possible in part by an $80,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina continues to attract high-quality, advanced-manufacturing jobs, due to our outstanding workforce and business-friendly environment,” said Gov. Perdue. “This announcement is also a great example of how we benefit from business relationships with overseas companies that bring jobs and investment to our state.”
DNP IMS America Corp. is a 100 percent U.S. subsidiary of Dai Nippon Printing Co. The company pioneered dye-sublimation technology, which produces color panels of ink applied to a polyester base that are wound into rolls of printer “ribbons”. The ribbons are used in conjunction with a dye-sublimation printer and through a heat-transfer process, a digital image can be printed onto photographic paper. This technology is used primarily in store-branded digital imaging solutions including photo kiosks, mini-labs and media for the photo retail market.
Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $46,757, not including benefits. The Cabarrus County average annual wage is $32,396.
“Even during these current economically challenging times, DNP has demonstrated its dedication and commitment to the city of Concord, and we are very excited about this growth opportunity both locally and at our corporate headquarters. DNP is extremely proud of the talented and passionate employees who have contributed to the growth of the company, and we look forward to adding to our team,” said Keigo Hayakawa, president of DNP IMS America Corp. “The addition of the coating line is the realization of one of the original goals for this facility set more than 15 years ago. Having additional coating domestically provides increased opportunity and more possibilities for greater long-term success for the community, DNP and our employees.”
The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, City of Concord, Cabarrus County, Cabarrus Economic Development and N.C. Community Colleges.
For more information about DNP IMS America Corp. and job opportunities with the company, go to www.dnpribbons.com.