Volusia County, Fla., and the Greater Daytona Region is becoming a target for manufacturers looking to tap into the cost-effective land prices, competitive wage rates and a well-trained workforce in one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. With more than 450 manufacturing companies in place supporting industries such as tool-and-die, medical device and marine manufacturing, plus, aviation and aerospace and steel and composite manufacturing, Volusia County continues to provide opportunities for new and expanding businesses.
Strategically located in central Florida east of the metropolitan-Orlando area and along Interstate 95, Volusia County allows connectivity to the entire East Coast of the United States—manufacturers can import and export efficiently, meeting the needs of their clients and customers. Several companies have either located or expanded in Volusia County recently to capitalize on these advantages.
B Braun Medical Inc. completed the acquisition of Gambro in Daytona Beach in 2016 and immediately identified the Daytona Beach facility as an expansion opportunity. The project has added 400,000-sq.ft. of manufacturing and distribution space since 2016 and with a local investment of $140 million, creating 175 new jobs.
DaVita Labs opened a 150,000-sq.ft. campus in DeLand in 2018. The campus is a diagnostic laboratory serving DaVita’s dialysis clinics and patients. The lab will perform more than 47 million laboratory tests annually and employs 450 people. The campus is home to DaVita’s advanced automation lab. The concentration of DaVita’s laboratory operations to DeLand was a testament to the workforce, training and competitive wages offered in Volusia County.
Sampedro, a Colombian company dedicated to manufacturing medical devices for the musculoskeletal system, partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to open a state-of-the-art prototyping and innovation lab at the John Mica Engineering and Aerospace Innovation Complex at Embry-Riddle Research Park. TECHFIT Digital Surgery will be located at the MicaPlex and the University of Central Florida Business Incubator at Daytona Beach International Airport as it ramps up U.S. operations through research and development and increased marketing.
These three companies are just a sample of new and expanding companies in Volusia County. Education and training play a vital role in the creation of a well-trained and highly skilled workforce. Daytona State College, through its Advanced Technical College, has several programs and training options for people desiring training in manufacturing skills, CNC certifications, information systems and other programs which can enhance the skills of individuals participating in the program. The Volusia County Schools has also created the first manufacturing academy at Pine Ridge High School that integrates classroom instruction around career areas in manufacturing.
This article was prepared by Enterprise Florida, which is solely responsible for its content.
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