Canadian company says Orangeburg County has the roads, rail and products it needs

Orangeburg County officials rolled out the red carpet Thursday afternoon for a Canadian maker of sealants for wood and other products.

Walker Emulsions Inc. officials praised the Southern hospitality they have received over the past 2-1/2 years since the company first made contact with Orangeburg County officials.

“It was at that time we as an organization recognized the need to get a position in the Southeast,” Walker Emulsions Executive Vice President Archie Reynolds told those gathered for the company’s grand opening and plant tour Thursday.

“We did our due diligence with the business metric. We really concluded that not only was this the place we needed to be, but Orangeburg was a place we wanted to be,” he said.

Walker Emulsions in February agreed to create a minimum of 11 new jobs and invest $4.5 million at the 53,000-square foot site it acquired in the Orangeburg County Industrial Park off U.S. 21. Valspar formerly occupied the building.

Currently, the company employs six and is in the process of preparing the plant for a full-scale ramp up of operations in the next two to three weeks.

The new jobs will pay more than the county’s average wage of $14 per hour.

Earlier this month, Orangeburg County Council approved a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement between the county and the company. The incentive allows companies to pay a fee instead of property taxes based on a 6 percent assessment ratio, rather than the standard 10.5 percent.

Walker Emulsions manufactures and distributes the company’s liquid-based solutions used in building products such as insulation and tiling.

An example of Walker’s products is the moisture-resistant sealant placed on drywall used in bathrooms and kitchens.

The product is primarily transported by rail and interstate. The site’s location near Norfolk Southern and the interstates was among the most attractive reasons for choosing Orangeburg, Reynolds said.

“The rail network and the transport network is crucial,” Reynolds said. “It is really important to us is that Norfolk-Southern offers daily service to rail, which is unique. That is important to us. Getting our materials into products is important.”

The availability of wood products such as particle board and medium-density fiberboard also helped draw the company to Orangeburg, Reynolds said.

Walker Emulsions looked at several other states, including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

The plant will serve primarily the South Carolina, Georgia and Florida markets. It is the company’s first plant in the southeastern United States, and its second in the U.S.

Some of its customers include Georgia Pacific, Norbord Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Company. Its markets are in North America.

“It made so much more sense to be here from a serviceability standpoint,” Reynolds said.

Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said it is not the first time he has been involved in the recruitment of a Canadian job producer. He said he did so in 1981 when he asked the Canadian who would become his wife on their first date. Today, she employs over 20 people.

“You truly are our greatest neighbor and our greatest ally,” Hutto said. “Somebody that we have shared the history of our country with.”

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright praised Walker Emulsions’ commitment to the environment, the safety of its employees and giving back to the community.

“We need those kind of commitments and those kind of companies,” Wright said. “Thank you for choosing Orangeburg County. I hope you have a good marriage here. If you have anybody giving you any problems, give me a call and we will make sure you don’t have any divorce because we want you to stay here.”

“This is a partnership with tremendous benefit for the city of Orangeburg,” Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said. “This partnership brings jobs and opportunities for the citizens of our great city. An increase in job opportunities remains a major priority on the Orangeburg City agenda.”

Walker Emulsions joins Quality Model Plastics, Innovative Composites International and Monteferro as Canadian manufacturers calling Orangeburg County home.

Walker Emulsions’ other U.S. plant is in Portland, Oregon.

Walker Emulsions is a subsidiary of the Walker Industries Group, a family-owned, private business. Walker Industries purchased Associated Chemists’ assets about two years ago. Associated Chemists operated its forest division plant in Orangeburg before Valspar Corporation purchased it in 2004.

Resumes and job inquiries can be sent to careers@walkerind.com, attention Pam Barton.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.