New Pharmaceutical Company Saves 300 jobs in Lincoln County
New Pharmaceutical Company Saves 300 jobs in Lincoln County
Lincoln County Welcomes G&W Laboratories, Inc.
Lincoln County, NC – G&W Laboratories Inc. based in South Plainfield, NJ is a family owned business which was founded in 1919 by Carl Greenblatt after returning from military service as a pharmacist with US forces in WWI. Carl’s son Burton joined him later in 1945; Burton was also a pharmacist who served in WWII. G&W established a reputation as an innovative specialist in suppository, cream, ointment, gel, and liquid dosage forms. Carl’s grandson, Ron, and great-grandson, Aaron, are currently active in the company, and together with their senior leadership team headed by Kurt Orlofski, guide G&W Laboratories with an uncompromising commitment to product integrity and customer service.
After learning of Actavis’ plans to phase out their production and close the plant in Lincoln County NC, G&W became interested in learning more about the facility and the processes currently being used by Actavis. G&W manufactures some of the same types of products but they also found that the facility could manufacture some additional products that would expand their product portfolio. After months of visits and interviews, G&W not only was impressed with the facility but with the passion and commitment the employees displayed.
The Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) met with the company on a number of occasions providing them with information concerning the various services and support they could expect to find as a corporate business in Lincoln County.
Negotiations began to take place between the two companies and as a result G&W Laboratories will become the new owner of the 139,856 SF facility located at 1877 Kawai Road, Lincolnton, which employs 300 people as of June 13, 2014. G&W is expected to invest approximately $3.5 million in machinery and equipment and initially maintain the 300 jobs with future plans to increase that number.
“All of us at G&W Laboratories are very excited about the opportunity to expand our capability to produce high quality pharmaceutical products here in Lincoln County, North Carolina. We believe the facility, operations, staff and the surrounding community make for a perfect fit operationally and culturally for G&W Laboratories. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship here in Lincoln County and are grateful to have partnered with the County to make our vision a reality”, Ron Greenblatt, CEO of G&W Laboratories
Alex Patton Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Chairman, “I want to thank G& W for their commitment to Lincoln County and to the 300 employees that faced certain job loss. We welcome this family owned business to the growing list of diverse companies that call Lincoln County home. We look forward to a long and successful relationship and we are excited about what the future holds for G&W. I certainly want to thank LEDA for their efforts in helping retain these jobs and for what they do to make our county so business friendly.”
“When you think about it, sometimes saving jobs is just as important as creating new ones. G & W Laboratories has done just that and all of us at LEDA are very appreciative of their commitment. Their investment in our community as well as our people will have a positive impact for many years to come”, says Bo King, Board Chairman, Lincoln Economic Development Association.
“It is always rewarding to work with new industry who wants to commit to our community and create new jobs, it is even more rewarding to work with a company such as G&W Laboratories who appreciates the current talent and wants to secure that talent. We welcome you and thank you for your investment in our people and our community”, Crystal Gettys, Business Development Manager for LEDA.
About LEDA
Lincoln Economic Development Association is a private, 501c (3) non-profit corporation charged with facilitating industrial and office development in Lincolnton and Lincoln County. LEDA’s mission is to foster an economic environment that promotes an enhancement of the standard of living by creating more and better jobs for the citizens of Lincolnton and Lincoln County and an increased and diversified tax base to provide needed community services. The organization’s goals include retention and expansion of existing business; attraction of diversified base industries, improvement of the overall business climate within Lincolnton and Lincoln County and growing stage 2 entrepreneurial companies.