· Company is a global leader in the ceramics industry
· Project represents an investment of approximately $35 million
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Florim USA officials announced today that the porcelain floor and wall tile manufacturer will expand operations at its facility in Clarksville.
Florim USA will invest roughly $35 million and create more than 30 new jobs to expand and increase all operations. The expansion will include construction of a new administration building and showroom, and the addition of technologically advanced manufacturing machinery to increase not only production capabilities, but also the range of product offerings, which will allow for a 100 percent U.S.-manufactured product. Florim USA will also invest in additional tile crusher machinery to recycle fired scrap metal back into production.
Florim USA’s Clarksville facility consists of the following highly automated operations: body preparation, glaze preparation, pressing, glazing, kiln, rectification, polishing, selection and packaging. The process is considered “closed-loop” with 100 percent of the water and 95 percent of all production waste generated throughout the operations recycled back through the system.
The American subsidiary of Florim Group, based in Italy, Florim USA is one of the largest and most technologically advanced porcelain tile facilities in North America. Florim USA is one of over 40 Italian-owned establishments in Tennessee that employ more than 4,800 Tennesseans.
Over the last five years, TNECD has supported 11 economic development projects in Montgomery County, resulting in more than 3,100 job commitments and roughly $815 million in capital investment.
QUOTES
“International investment in Tennessee bolsters our state’s reputation as a global leader in business, trade and manufacturing. Florim USA has been a great partner to Tennessee, and I congratulate the company on the expansion of its Clarksville facility.” – Gov. Bill Lee
“Italian companies have invested more than $265 million in Tennessee since 2015. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Florim USA and thank this globally-renowned ceramics company for investing approximately $35 million in Montgomery County.” – TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe
“For over a decade, Florim USA has invested in state-of-the-art production processes, enabling technologies, workforce cleanliness and safety, and environmental responsibility. We’ve seen the great success and tremendous opportunity that has been created from our continued partnership with the state of Tennessee. These new expansions are aligned with Florim USA’s philosophy of environmental sustainability by supporting efficiency in energy consumption and minimizing waste generation. We are not only thinking about our growth today but growth with an environmentally sustainable future inspired by our parent company, the first porcelain tile manufacturer to become a Benefit Corporation and to obtain the B Corp certification.” – Florim USA, Inc. President Antonio Albanese
“It’s great to see growth of our existing industries, even as we continue to add new manufacturers to our local economy. Florim USA has been a mainstay in our local business park, and they have consistently grown jobs and improved their facility with new investments. They also are a leader in making porcelain tile manufacturing as sustainable and environmentally sound as possible, and we are thankful that they are a great corporate citizen.” – City of Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts
“Congratulations to our friends at Florim on this expansion! I am glad to see that they are experiencing growth and prosperity in Montgomery County. Florim has been a long-time community partner that we greatly appreciate, and they are also an impressive steward of the environment. I wish them the best.” – Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett
“TVA and Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation congratulate Florim USA on its decision to expand operations in Montgomery County. Helping to support job creation and investment in the Valley is fundamental to TVA’s mission of service, and we are proud to partner with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to help further that mission and celebrate this announcement.” – John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development
“This is great news and a sizable investment. I congratulate Florim USA and all our state and local officials who helped secure these jobs. We will continue to make job creation our top priority.” – Sen. Bill Powers (R-Clarksville)
“Florim USA has been an exceptional community partner and valued employer in Montgomery County for many years, and this investment speaks highly of the working relationship we have and the quality of our workforce. I congratulate Florim USA and its employees for their success, and I thank our local leaders who work hard to promote and advance our existing industries.” – Rep. Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville)
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment to the state and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
TNECD Media Contact
Lindsey Tipton
Public Information Officer
(615) 339-6608
Lindsey.Tipton@tn.gov
###