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It’s official: Graham is Indulor’s first U.S. operation
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8/20/2009
It’s official: Graham is Indulor’s first U.S. operation
Robert Boyer / Times-News
2009-08-19 18:20:20
GRAHAM — From the greetings to the Beck’s beer, the official welcome for polymer-maker
Indulor had a distinctly German flavor.
On Wednesday afternoon, a crowd of about 50 civic, government and business leaders
gathered at the former Southeastern Chemical Co. building at 932 E. Elm St. to welcome the
German polymer-maker to the city.
“Guten Tag! For those who don’t know German, for those who do know German, may not
recognize ‘good afternoon’ in a southern accent,” said Dr. David Johnson, the chairman of the
board for the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber officials realized that Indulor “had other opportunities, location, options for your
facility,” Johnson said. “And we’re pleased that you have chosen this facility in Graham as
your first location in the United States, and as a chamber, we’re pleased that we made this
today part of the reality.”
Indulor bought the building Monday and plans to open its first U.S. operation under the
banner of Indulor America. The move comes after the Graham City Council and Alamance
County Board of Commissioners each pledged $50,000 in incentives, or $100,000 total.
Each government is giving Indulor $30,000 to help it acquire, renovate and install equipment
in the roughly 25,000-square-foot building, provided the company makes an approximately
$5 million capital investment by the end of 2011, and pays its property taxes through the end
of 2011. (The company’s property tax bill would be about $20,000 a year when the plant is up
and running, Graham officials have estimated.)
The company will receive another $40,000 ($20,000 from each government) if it creates 20
jobs by the end of 2013.
The jobs are expected to pay an average salary of $740 a week, or $38,480 a year.
Johnson called economic development a “team sport” and thanked officials from Graham, the
county and the state Commerce Department, Duke Energy, the N.C. Railroad, Southeastern
Chemical and John Leath, the CEO of Acucote, a neighboring business, for their help in
bringing Indulor to Graham.
County Commissioner Chairwoman Linda Massey encouraged Indulor officials to call on her
if they need help. “We welcome you here and don’t let anybody tell you any different,” she
said. “And, if any of us can be of any help, just call one of the other commissioners,” she
joked.
Sebastian Fengler, the son of Indulor founder Erwin Fengler thanked “everyone who has
helped us get set up in this facility.”

It’s official: Graham is Indulor’s first U.S. operation
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8/20/2009
Fengler has said the company will open a distribution hub at its new Graham digs within
several weeks, and eventually will set up a manufacturing operation.
After the ribbon-cutting at the new Indulor site, company officials hosted a reception at the
Captain White House on South Main Street in Graham.
Graham Mayor Jerry Peterman and chamber President Mac Williams said Indulor’s arrival in
Graham will help draw more businesses to the county. “That’s the important thing, getting
them in the county where they can help us all,” Peterman said.
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