Axxor, a global leader in paper honeycomb development and production, will expand its operations at the Ringgold East Industrial Park in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. The $3.5 million project is expected to create 21 jobs.

The company will purchase new machinery to expand production capacity due to a partnership with a Tier 1 supplier to Ford Motor Company for the new Ford Bronco platform and demand from the packaging industry for sustainable materials to support e-commerce growth.

“When selecting the location for its production facility in North America in 2011, Axxor believed the support offered by the state and local leadership to be the strongest in the region,” said Axxor President and Co-owner Robert Boerrigter. “Since beginning production in 2012, the state and local communities have delivered on those promises made in 2011 and now again supported our next phase with a competitive package. For this reason, continuing its expansion in Ringgold was a logical choice. Once again, Axxor is appreciative of the continued partnership with state and local officials to support economic development and we are proud to call Danville home.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Pittsylvania County and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the project for Virginia and will support Axxor’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.

The company is also eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

“Axxor established its U.S. operation in Pittsylvania County over 10 years ago with a vision for success, and it is exciting to see that dream exceed expectations as the company has outgrown its capacity and created a product that is in high demand,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “We thank Axxor for its continued confidence in the Commonwealth and for providing an economic boost to Southern Virginia.”

Founded in 1993 in Zwolle, the Netherlands, Axxor is one of the leading companies in the production of paper honeycomb. Paper honeycomb is a core material that is increasingly in demand as a diverse range of manufacturers pursue weight reduction and increased sustainability. Axxor’s North America production has taken place in Pittsylvania County since 2012 and in Europe (the Netherlands and Poland) on state-of-the art production lines developed in-house. This enables the company to deliver small-to-very large volumes in consistently high quality and at an excellent price with a 100% business continuity.

“It is often said that an existing industry is the lifeblood of a community. Axxor exemplifies this, by commitment to employees and constant efforts to improve the region’s workforce system, in support of the enhanced qualify of life for the region’s employees, and in their constant pursuit of innovative technology for customization of production lines and processes in order to satisfy the needs of a diverse customer base,” said Linda Green, Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. “The pursuit of quality and efficiency perpetuates everything they do inside the manufacturing plant and in our region. Our region is stronger because of Axxor’s presence, and we look forward to continuing to grow together.”