Area Development
REPI LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of REPI S.p.A. of Milan, Italy, will invest $5.5 million in the first phase of building a new manufacturing plant in Gastonia, North Carolina. The company will initially create 30 jobs.

"It is a distinct pleasure today to realize the vision of expanding a family-owned, private business from Italy into North Carolina and particularly into the Technology Park that the leaders here in Gastonia prepared with their vision and investment in the anticipation companies would come," stated Dr. Ferruccio Angiolini, president of REPI S.p.A. "Since opening a satellite laboratory, sales and administrative office in Charlotte in 2003, our market position has grown and the advanced research and technical services we implement has built a strong level of customer loyalty. The expansive market we serve for liquid colorants and additives for polyurethane used in the automotive, footwear, coating, and furniture markets as well as a strong position to expand into thermoplastics for soft drink bottles and cosmetics in the near future make location here a strategic option."

REPI will initially build a 30,000-square-foot facility that it expects to double within three years. It will serve the entire Western Hemisphere. If aid from local economic development entities is approved, the facility could be online by the end of the year.

The company selected Gastonia for its technical training, employment services, and access to the NC Polymer Center of Excellence. The site will be REPI's first manufacturing plant outside Italy.