Germany-based SCHOCK GmbH, the inventor of quartz composite sinks, will invest $85 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Henry County, Virginia. The project is expected to create 355 new jobs.

The company will occupy the Lot 8 Shell Building, a 95,500-square-foot facility on 14.7 acres in Patriot Centre Industrial Park. Phase one will be completed over a five-year period, during which the company will establish the manufacturing capability to produce quartz composite kitchen sinks.

“For SCHOCK, this expansion is very special, it’s our first production site outside Germany,” said SCHOCK CEO Ralf Boberg. “The facility will serve the strongest growth market for our product category and allow us to meet demand for colored kitchen sinks with local ‘Made in the USA’ products. We are thrilled to have found the ideal location in Henry County. As an industrial business hub, the region has a well-qualified and dedicated workforce, one of the key success factors for us as a company, and its geographic location and interregional infrastructure are perfect for our needs.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $1.7 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Henry County with the project. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

“We are excited to welcome SCHOCK to Virginia,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “This important European company is choosing to invest in Virginia because of our highly skilled workers and our outstanding business climate. When a global leader like SCHOCK selects Virginia as its gateway into the United States, that’s a sign that this is a great place to do business. We look forward to a successful partnership for many years to come.”

Support for SCHOCK’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a workforce initiative created by VEDP in collaboration with the Virginia Community College System and other higher education partners. Funding support came from the Northam administration and the Virginia General Assembly. The program, which launched in 2019, accelerates new facility start-ups through the direct delivery of recruitment and training services that are fully customized to a company’s unique products, processes, equipment, standards, and culture. All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies as an incentive for job creation.

“This substantial investment and the creation of over 350 high-quality jobs is a tremendous economic boost for Henry County and the entire region,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “Martinsville-Henry County has made a commitment to infrastructure, education, and workforce in the region, and we are confident the company will benefit from these efforts. We welcome SCHOCK to the Commonwealth and thank the company for this major investment.

Founded in 1924 and headquartered in Regen, Germany, SCHOCK invented the quartz composite sink in 1979. SCHOCK has been a leading innovator in the field through its commitment to product development and traditional craftsmanship for more than 40 years. The company holds over 100 patents. SCHOCK offers a broad product portfolio comprised of over 200 sink models in more than 40 colors within its product lines CRISTALITE® and CRISTADUR®, including its CRISTADUR® GREEN Line sinks, which are made of approximately 99 percent natural, renewable, or recycled raw materials.