GREENWOOD — One of the region’s major
manufacturing companies announced Friday that it plans a $100
million expansion at its Greenwood facility.
Fuji Photo Film Inc. made its 15th investment announcement
in 15 years, expanding its investment total in Greenwood to
more than $1.4 billion.
"It has been an exciting day," said Craig White, vice
president of corporate communications at Fuji. "These new
technologies, as they come into the market, have new demand.
We are replacing existing technologies with newer technologies
but will continue to manufacture both."
The expansion will occur at the company’s PS Plate factory,
allowing Fuji to increase production of computer-to-plate
printing plates. The high-color, high-resolution plates are
used for the printing of magazines and other graphic products.
Fuji has manufactured conventional plates in Greenwood
since 1989, said Mr. White, who called the plates one of
Fuji’s "new generation" products.
Use of the printing plates in the United States and Canada
has grown ten-fold in the past four years and today accounts
for more than 50 percent of the market, Mr. White said. He
said the plates are more cost-efficient, environmentally
friendly and user-friendly.
Fuji has used its existing manufacturing line to produce
the plates since they were introduced into the market. Mr.
White explained that the growing demand required that the
company devote an entire line to the product. He said no jobs
would be created as the company transitions from the old
technology to the new factory.
Bulldozers lined up outside the facility began
pre-construction work as soon as the crowd of 600 attending
the announcement dissolved, Mr. White said. Construction is
expected to conclude before the end of 2004.
Gov. Mark Sanford, Commerce Secretary Bob Faith, U.S. Sen.
Lindsey Graham and a number of other political leaders joined
what Mr. White described as a "who’s who of Greenwood" for the
reception.
The announcement accompanied news that Fuji’s Medical
Products Division in Greenwood has begun totally integrated
manufacturing of the newest stage of dry medical imaging film
used in North America. The new film will augment Fuji’s
standard X-ray factory in Greenwood that was opened in 2001.
The Greenwood facility, which serves as Fuji’s North
American headquarters, employs 1,600 people and currently
consists of eight high-tech manufacturing plants, the
Greenwood Research Laboratories and the largest Fujifilm
distribution center in the world. The facility manufactures a
broader range of products than any other Fuji complex in the
world.
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