Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory, N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C. announced today that Burkert Contromatic Corporation (dba Burkert Fluid Control Systems) is planning to expand in Mecklenburg County and create 61 new jobs. The company plans to invest more than $22 million over the next three years in Huntersville.
“Burkert has been steadily growing its operations here in North Carolina over the past eight years,” said Governor McCrory. “It is great to see them expanding even more in North Carolina with these new jobs.”
Burkert is one of the world's leading manufacturers of measuring, controlling and regulating systems for fluids and gases. Burkert products are used in a wide range of industries and applications including food and beverage processing, breweries and wineries, gas handling operations, water treatment facilities and pharmaceutical plants. Burkert valves can be found in various medical equipment such as blood analyzers, dialysis machines and dental chairs.
The family-owned company, founded in 1946, with headquarters in Ingelfingen in southern Germany, has a large-ranging sales network in 36 countries and more than 2,500 employees worldwide. It currently employs 66 people in Mecklenburg County, plus another 14 in its California office.
“Burkert knows first-hand the benefits of being located in North Carolina,” said Secretary Decker. “The decision to expand its operations here continues the message that North Carolina is a great state for business.”
Salaries will vary by job function, but the annual payroll for the new jobs created by this expansion will be $2.9 million.
“Burkert is excited to expand within Mecklenburg County”, said Harm Stratman, president and director of global sales for Burkert. “We have a strong, experienced staff ready to take ‘The Next Step’ to move to a site with long range growth opportunities in Huntersville that offers quality of life, area schools and location close to Charlotte and the airport. We currently have staff in five local locations and look forward to all being under one roof.
“Our plans for a campus-setting include wellness opportunities for employees and families in the form of walking and bike trails, picnic areas and sports facilities,” continued Stratman. “We appreciate the ‘warm welcome’ from Huntersville and look forward to becoming involved in local education and conservation projects. We also plan to incorporate ‘green’ as well as renewable energy opportunities, such as solar and thermal when possible, into our future building designs. Our staff is our greatest asset, which we need to continue to be a ‘fast-growing’ company in the USA!”
Over the past five years, Burkert has doubled its sales in the USA by constantly engineering systems and solutions in response to the dynamic and exciting challenges presented by water, steam, gases and other media.
The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $110,000. 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.
“This expansion by Burkert Contromatic Corporation will be a great addition to the economy of Mecklenburg County. We welcome them to our community,” said Senator Jeff Tarte. “These new jobs are welcome news, and more proof that the Carolina Comeback ushered in by Governor McCrory and the NC Legislature is in full swing.”
“I am happy to hear about these new jobs coming to Mecklenburg County,” said Representative Charles Jeter. “It is great that Burkert Contromatic Corporation has decided to grow its presence here in North Carolina.”
In addition to the N.C. Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of N.C., other partners that helped with this project include: North Carolina Community College Systems, Lake Norman Region Economic Development, Town of Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, Energy United and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.