Company specializing in medical paper moves headquarters to Charleston region

Jun. 1, 2003
For Immediate Release
COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN MEDICAL PAPER MOVES HEADQUARTERS
TO CHARLESTON REGION; PORT, LIFESTYLE DRIVE DECISION

JUNE 23, 2003 – A specialty paper manufacturer has relocated its medical division from Atlanta to the Charleston region to better serve its customers. Today’s announcement that ArjoWiggins Medical, Inc. has relocated its headquarters, distribution and light manufacturing operations was facilitated by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.

ArjoWiggins Medical, Inc. is the medical division of specialty paper manufacturer ArjoWiggins, SAS, which is headquartered in Paris, France. The medical division is one of five the corporation operates in the United States, and has been based in Atlanta since its founding 18 years ago. ArjoWiggins Medical is occupying 50,000 square feet in the region’s Charleston Regional Business Center.

According to company officials, the Port of Charleston was a key factor in its decision to relocate to the Charleston region. “Because we import our products from France, we rely on a productive and efficient seaport,” said Dave Darby, President of ArjoWiggins Medical. “This port offers everything we need in terms of freight handling and logistics support.”

Darby noted that the company also considered Norfolk, Jacksonville and Savannah for this relocation. “But we ultimately selected the Charleston area because we found an existing facility that exactly meets our needs, and the quality of life here is unbeatable,” he said. The company expects to invest $3 million in the region.

ArjoWiggins’ product line includes: non-woven hospital sterilization wraps, used for surgical draping and other applications; and medical packaging papers, used for adhesive bandage and other medical packaging. Some of the imported product will be resized at the company’s manufacturing facility here and rendered into smaller sheets.

In welcoming ArjoWiggins’ decision to locate its headquarters in the region, Alliance Chairman Gene Williams said, “Headquarters are a key focus area for the Alliance, and ArjoWiggins Medical fits this profile. Combined with their distribution and manufacturing operations, this is a triple win for our region. We’re proud that this dynamic, growing company has chosen to become a part of our business community.”

Jim Rozier, Berkeley County Supervisor and County Council Chairman, noted that ArjoWiggins Medical joins a robust corps of international firms operating in this region. “Time after time, we see that our port operations, our wonderful quality of life and the can-do spirit of our workforce make our community highly attractive to companies that truly could choose to operate anywhere in the world.”

Charleston’s Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. shared in the welcome of the new company, noting that the city has long been attractive to international firms. “Our waterways have for centuries attracted commerce, and our culture has attracted excellent companies. We look forward to seeing ArjoWiggins Medical grow and prosper here.”

ArjoWiggins is the 10th largest paper manufacturer in the world, with 28 manufacturing sites on four continents plus 7,500 employees worldwide. The company is considered the world’s leading manufacturer of technical and creative papers.

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance represents Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Its mission is to broaden and diversify business investment in this region, with a new emphasis on technology-intensive business sectors. Since its inception, the Alliance has worked with thousands of companies to help promote business investment and quality growth in the area. To learn more, go to www.charleston-for-business.com.


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Media Contact:
Colleen Troy
843 577 7327
ctroy@rawle-murdy.com

Company Contact:
Dave Darby
President & CEO
ArjoWiggins Medical
(843) 388-8080
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