Kyocera SGS corporate leadership joined with state and local officials, Sept. 18, for a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate its newly constructed manufacturing and research hub located at 149 Slayton Avenue in Cyber Park, Danville, Va. From this 30,000-sq.ft. state-of-the-art facility, Kyocera SGS Tech Hub LLC, a subsidiary of Kyocera SGS Precision Tools Inc., will produce customized solutions for its customers while actively evaluating and researching new best practices.
“We are proud to embark on our latest investment here in Danville and celebrate this moment,” said Jason Wells, president of Kyocera SGS Tech Hub. “As the newest industrial citizen to the community, we anticipate a long and successful future here and hope to encourage others in the industry to come see what is so special here. Danville is not just open for business, they are designed for it in every way!”
Wells said Danville has created a world class workforce pipeline that addresses hard skills and soft skills and incorporates the most advanced technologies into training programs. “Danville also provided a tremendous state-of-the-art, work ready incubation space to address the early needs of our operations while our new facility was being constructed,” Wells said. “The city further supported the construction of our new facility by financing the construction project, participating in bi-weekly project meetings, and arranging critical connections to expedite and execute a complex multi-million dollar construction project.”
He also said the city has built a utilities infrastructure that will “support advanced manufacturing and the rapid adaptation of new technology for years to come.”
Robby Demeria, Virginia deputy secretary of Commerce and Trade for Technology, said, “We are proud to have supported Kyocera SGS Precision Tool’s efforts to establish a manufacturing and research division in Danville and Pittsylvania County. Virginia’s advanced manufacturing industry is thriving, and we thank Kyocera SGS for its invaluable contribution to this growth in the region and the Commonwealth as a whole.”
In September 2016, Kyocera SGS Tech Hub announced it would invest $9.5 million and bring 35 new jobs paying an average annual salary of $65,000 to the Cyber Park, a technology park owned by the Danville-Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA).
Local students from Danville and Pittsylvania County will fill many of these jobs. RIFA Chairman Robert W. “Bob” Warren shared his excitement for the completion of the Tech Hub. “This world-class structure is truly a shining beacon upon the hill for the Dan River region and all of southern Virginia, as it redefines and exemplifies what the term ‘advanced manufacturing means,” said Warren, who also serves as chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. “This remarkable 21st century facility within the campus of the Cyber Park gives Kyocera SGS the ability to collaborate with the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining, the Regional Center for Advanced Technology and Training, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, and other future optimization spaces.”
Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones added, “Our region has made major investments in creating extraordinary workforce solutions centered around precision manufacturing, and today I’m delighted to welcome everyone in attendance to witness firsthand how working together can help transform this region while simultaneously providing tremendous value for industry.”
The Industrial Development Authority of Danville (IDA) financed construction of the new facility for $4.5 million. Kyocera SGS Tech Hub then purchased the building from the IDA. This project also qualified for the Commonwealth Opportunity Fund, the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund, and local industrial development grants from Danville and Pittsylvania County.
IDA Chairman Neal Morris said, “The Kyocera ribbon cutting event is the culmination of a team effort by many entities and organizations. We are very grateful for Kyocera choosing this Cyber Park location for their new facility.”
The new facility, designed and constructed by Blair Construction, sits on 10 acres directly across from the campus of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. Kyocera SGS Tech Hub has been operating out of the Charles Hawkins building at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, which is also home to the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining.
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