CULLMAN — In Cullman this week to survey progress on his company’s new manufacturing plant, Royal Technologies president Jim Vander Kolk was relieved at how smoothly planning and construction has gone.

“Honestly, we had a lot of options when we were in the process of looking for somewhere in the south to expand to,” Vander Kolk said. “We made the decision to come here in the fall of 2008, and I’m happy to say every day that has gone by has confirmed we made the right call. Our experience with local government on every level has been excellent and exactly what we were promised coming in.”

Located at the corner of Highway 157 and Highway 278, the new 200,000-square-foot Royal Technologies facility — clearly visible from the highway — is nearing completion within the next few months.

Based in Michigan, Royal Technologies manufactures injection molding, urethane foam and light assembly parts for office furniture and interior trim for automobiles.

Once the facility is finished, production could ramp up as early as September with an initial group of 35 employees. Within a year, Vander Kolk said that number could rise to around 200. The company could employ more than 300 people within two years, according to projections released when the plant was announced last year.

“This building is built for the needs of today, but we do plan to grow,” Vander Kolk said Wednesday, while touring the site. “If we work hard, are honest, and do a good job, we plan to add a lot of new jobs. We’re working hard to embrace this community and be a lasting part of Cullman and Cullman County.”

Throughout the construction process for the new plant, Royal Technologies facilities director Doug Oosterbaan said the company has made a concerted effort to use local contractors from the Cullman area.

“We’ve used Apel Steel, Manning Construction, Goss Electric, Hardy Mechanical and other local companies,” he said. “They have been really great to work with.”



Economic impact

With the recent closing of the VF Jeanswear manufacturing plant in Holly Pond last month — and the loss of 150 jobs there — city officials say the opening of the Royal facility later this year should lessen the blow for the local economy.

“This couldn’t have come at a better time for Cullman and would not have been possible without all levels of government coming together in support of this project,” Cullman Economic Development Agency Director Peggy Smith said. “With our unemployment rate reaching double-digits we are especially grateful to have been selected by a quality company like Royal Technologies for their southeast operation.”

Smith also noted the company’s $30 million five-year investment for the project should create some lasting, positive effects in Cullman County.

“They’ll be working with local businesses, increasing our tax base, providing critical additional revenue for our schools and much needed jobs for our citizens,” she said. “The money they’re investing is going to turn over so much that people sometimes just don’t see how much of an impact it has on the area.”

The company has teamed up with the Alabama Career Center and Wallace State in Hanceville to ensure there are trained, local employees available when the plant does open.

“We have started doing a tool and die program, and their company uses a lot of skills developed through that program,” Wallace State dean of technical education Dr. Philip Cleveland said. “They have also offered to partner with us as an industry to provide some die to use for training purposes for the program. We’re really excited and think this will be a great partnership.”

Some job placement for the company will also take place through the Alabama Career Center, located on the college campus.

“We’ll be working with them hand in hand to hopefully help with getting highly qualified applicants in there,” Cleveland said. “We’re all working hard to provide proper workforce programs and placement.”

Royal Technologies was founded in 1987 and operates three other manufacturing locations, as well as a corporate center.

The Details

The plant should open around September and could employ up to 200 people within a year.

Interested in jobs: Contact the Alabama Career Center, at Wallace State in Hanceville, at (256) 352-5538. (THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY HIRING). Check out AIDT for more information (http://www.aidt.edu/).

More information about the company: www.royaltechnologiescorp.com.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.