Japan-based Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd. will establish its North American Headquarters in Spalding County, Georgia, creating 32 jobs. Located on a 35-acre site within The Lakes at Green Valley industrial park on Georgia Highway 16, the site will put the company geographically closer to its customers.

The facility will manufacture titanate friction materials for automotive brake pads, an extension of the company’s existing chemical production businesses and one that it intends to expand in the United States.

“As a leading manufacturer of titanate friction material for the automotive industry, we are thrilled to announce the establishment of our new production facility in Georgia,” said Hiroyoshi Tosa, CEO of Otsuka Chemical America, Inc. “We look forward to contributing to the local community while working to meet the needs of our customers across the world through Otsuka Chemical’s environmentally friendly product offerings.”

The location of the Otsuka Chemical America headquarters and manufacturing facility is considered the first eco-park in Georgia and resulted from a partnership between the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority and Georgia Tech, the Governor’s Office said.

“I’m thrilled that this state-of-the-art chemical company has chosen Georgia to establish its North American headquarters,” said Governor Nathan Deal. “We have a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship with Japan, and our top-ranked business climate will continue to carry global companies such as Otsuka Chemical toward success.”

“Georgia Tech is committed to sustainability and the support of manufacturing in Georgia,” said Stephen Fleming, Vice President of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech. “By utilizing our leaders from different areas across campus during the development of The Lakes at Green Valley eco-industrial park, we are helping to create opportunities that support new business growth and the creation of jobs throughout the state.”

“It has been a pleasure working with the company officials of Otsuka in the planning of this project,” said Chuck Copeland, Chair of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority. “They have selected a very attractive site within our Lakes at Green Valley eco-development. We are confident they will be constructing a first-class facility and creating quality jobs for our community.”

“Otsuka Chemical could have chosen anywhere in the world to locate its newest business, but it chose Georgia,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr. “The company is already benefitting from our high-caliber labor pool and top-notch university research. I have no doubt that our booming manufacturing environment will help this company’s newest operations grow.”