Area Development
Honeywell will invest $27.5 million to improve its Advanced Fibers and Composites (AF&C) operation in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and create 50 jobs according to an announcement made by Gov. Bob McDonnell.

The manufacturing and technology conglomerate's AF&C unit makes polyethylene fiber used in extremely strong (yet light) bullet-proof armor worn by U.S. soldiers and law enforcement personnel.

"Honeywell's [AF&C] business.is already a premier supplier of life-saving materials for bullet-resistant vests and helmets as well as for industrial applications," explained Andreas Kramvis, President/CEO of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies. "This investment will allow us to better serve our customers with next-generation materials."

Headquartered in Morristown, NJ, Honeywell is a Fortune 100 company that invents and manufactures technology products associated with safety, security and energy "global macrotrends" for corporations and governments. It employs more than 122,000 employees worldwide; about 58,000 of them work in the United States.

Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, said Honeywell began operations in Virginia as early as 1928, "and it is gratifying that the company continues to thrive more than 80 years later." The company currently employs about 300 people in Chesterfield County, he added.

Gov. McDonnell approved a $300,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program to support the company's recruitment and training activities.