10 October 2017 — Eldorado Stone has opened a new 432,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing and distribution facility in Greencastle, Pa. It consolidates operations from a manufacturing plant near Greencastle and a distribution facility in Hagerstown, Md.

Eldorado Stone multi-family housing
Eldorado Stone, which produces architectural stone and brick veneer, has opened a new 432,000-sq. ft. manufacturing and distribution facility in Greencastle, Pa.

Eldorado Stone will be moving from a 90,000-sq.-ft. building to another nearly five times bigger in Antrim Commons Business Park .

“By consolidating operations into a single facility and upgrading equipment, our team will be able to increase capacity by 25 to 30 percent, while ultimately spending less on operational logistics,” said Ramsay Hawfield, VP of marketing & product development. “This increase will translate directly into enhanced service opportunities for Eldorado Stone customers all along the East Coast.”

“I’m a firm believer that if you provide people the environment that they can flourish in, they will,” said Frank Guthrie, Eldorado plant manager. “This building will give us the opportunity with better lighting, better air flow, safe work environment, better ergonomics. It will really allow us to take those next steps in our journey to world class.”

The building has a better training room, break room and bathrooms, Guthrie said. Robotics will improve ergonomics for employees.

Once the operations are stable at the new location, Eldorado will address hiring, Guthrie said. The company will be adding a fourth production line.

Incentives played a role in the project. Eldorado qualified for a $250,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant, $114,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits and a $400,000 low-interest PIDA loan. The company is leasing the 432,000-square-foot facility on 25.4 acres from the joint venture group of Atapco Properties and Chesapeake Real Estate Group LLC. Eldorado is investing $7 million in equipment and interior of the building.

Based in San Marcos, Calif., Eldorado Stone produces architectural stone and brick veneer, fireplace surrounds, fire bowls, and outdoor living products.

Source: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2017/09/27/local-manufacturers-expand-promise-100-jobs/705798001/