Healthcare company plans 600,000-square-foot manufacturing, distribution campus in Lee County – The North State Journal

Sanford in Lee County is set for a major new investment from healthcare company STERIS. (Indy beetle via Wikimedia Commons)

SANFORD — Global healthcare company STERIS plans to invest $600 million in a new manufacturing and distribution campus in Sanford, a project expected to create 335 jobs and further expand Lee County’s growing advanced manufacturing sector.

Gov. Josh Stein announced the project last week, saying the company will establish a 600,000-square-foot Chemistries Manufacturing Center of Excellence that will include manufacturing, research and development, laboratory, warehouse and distribution operations.

The new jobs will have an average annual salary of $68,704, above Lee County’s average wage of $59,903, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. At full employment, the project could generate an annual payroll of more than $23 million.

“STERIS is making a major investment in North Carolina, which reinforces our state’s reputation as a powerhouse in the life sciences industry,” Stein said. “Decades of excellence in manufacturing and innovation have developed the world-class talent, research and supply chain that continues to attract global companies and drive long-term economic growth across our state.”

Founded in 1985, STERIS provides products and services used in patient care, with a particular focus on infection prevention. The company employs more than 18,000 people at roughly 250 locations in more than 35 countries.

The Sanford facility will consolidate and expand portions of the company’s formulated chemistries manufacturing and distribution operations as STERIS looks to increase U.S. production capacity.

“After extensive analysis of our existing facilities and customer demand, we have decided to make a significant investment in the United States to support our long-term global growth,” STERIS President and CEO Dan Carestio said.

Carestio said the new center will allow the company to accelerate product development, increase capacity, and improve its U.S. manufacturing and distribution network.

“Our customers save lives every day, and with this investment we will be well positioned to support their needs for years to come,” he said.

The project is being supported by a Job Development Investment Grant approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee.

Under the 12-year agreement, STERIS could receive as much as $3.21 million in reimbursements from the state if it meets required job creation and investment targets. Payments are made only after the departments of Commerce and Revenue verify the company has met those benchmarks.

State officials estimate the project will increase North Carolina’s economy by about $1.8 billion over the life of the grant.

Commerce estimates the project will generate $4.25 in state revenue for every $1 in potential state cost, representing a projected return on investment of 325%.

Because Lee County is classified as a Tier 2 county under the state’s economic development ranking system, as much as $357,000 tied to the grant could also be directed to North Carolina’s Industrial Development Fund Utility Account. The fund helps communities pay for infrastructure improvements used to recruit or expand businesses.

The STERIS announcement adds another large manufacturing investment to the Sanford area, which has attracted a series of life sciences, pharmaceutical and advanced manufacturing projects in recent years.

“STERIS’ decision to make its Center of Excellence in Lee County affirms the region’s emergence as a premier hub for advanced manufacturing,” N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said.

The state worked with a broad group of local and regional partners on the project, including the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, N.C. Biotechnology Center, Central Carolina Community College, the Sanford Area Growth Alliance, Lee County and the city of Sanford.

Transportation and utility partners include the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, North Carolina Railroad Company, Norfolk Southern, TriRiver Water and Duke Energy.

“This landmark investment and expansion mark an exciting new chapter for both the company and our community, creating opportunities for shared growth and long-term economic prosperity,” state Sen. Jim Burgin said.

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Global packaging company chooses Spartanburg Co. for first U.S. manufacturing facility

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — Detpak USA announced Thursday morning it will establish its first U.S. manufacturing operation in Spartanburg County. The global packaging supplier’s multi-million-dollar investment is expected to create more than 50 new jobs during its initial phase.

Detpak is a global packaging supplier that supports quick-service restaurants, food service, fast-moving consumer goods and retail customers. The company is a subsidiary of Detmold Group, an Australian company known for producing premium packaging solutions.

The new production facility will be approximately 175,000 square feet, located at 2781 New Cut Road. This operation is intended to support the company’s North American market growth and will use both imported and locally sourced raw materials from existing suppliers.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $100,000 Set-Aside grant to Spartanburg County. This grant is designated to assist with the costs of building improvements.

Operations for Detpak USA’s new Spartanburg County facility are expected to be online in August 2026. Individuals interested in joining the Detpak team should visit the company’s careers page for more information.

Nikolette Miller is a digital reporter/content producer at 7NEWS. She joined the team in March 2022. She is a native of Spartanburg and a proud graduate of Dorman High School and Winthrop University. You can read more of her work here.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

 For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. 

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AI drone company Skydio announces $3.5 billion investment in technology race

Artificial intelligence-powered drone manufacturer Skydio on Friday announced a $3.5 billion investment to expand its domestic production and supply chain as the technology race against China intensifies.

The investment, unveiled during a press conference with local law enforcement in Fairfax County, Virginia, will be deployed over the next five years to scale U.S.-based manufacturing, develop critical components, and create thousands of jobs. 

“This is going to go squarely into the U.S. drone ecosystem,” Skydio CEO Adam Bry said, adding that the company plans to “5x the size of our own factory” and dedicate roughly $1 billion toward sourcing key components domestically.

The announcement comes amid heightened warnings from U.S. officials about foreign threats to American innovation. 

A memo circulated this week by White House technology adviser Michael Kratsios warned that China has been actively attempting to steal United States advances in AI, raising concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities.

Bry emphasized that the global drone market has been dominated by foreign manufacturers, many based in China.

“It’s just untenable to be dependent on our adversaries for technology this important,” he said. 

A central component of the investment is a new initiative aimed at “onshoring” production of drone parts, including motors, batteries, and microchips. The effort seeks to build a fully domestic supply chain for robotics and AI-enabled systems, reducing reliance on overseas manufacturing hubs. 

“It’s not a mystery that right now, the world-leading manufacturing ecosystem for electronics is in China,” Bry said. “But there’s no law of physics that says it has to be that way.” 

Bry said the investment will create thousands of jobs, primarily in California, where the company is based, but will also look nationally.

Kratsios, who attended the announcement event, called the announcement “a real turning point” for U.S. industrial policy, tying it to broader federal efforts to secure supply chains and strengthen domestic manufacturing. 

“We are going to ensure that the most advanced, most reliable and most trusted systems in the world are built here in the United States,” he said, describing domestic production as a “national security imperative.” 

Drone technology is increasingly linked to broader geopolitical competition with China, particularly as AI-driven systems become integral to military, infrastructure, and public safety operations. 

Skydio drones are already used by U.S. military branches, law enforcement agencies, and infrastructure operators, driving demand for expanded domestic production.

US MILITARY SITES DEPLOY DRONES FOR SECURITY AS RECRUITMENT FLUCTUATES

President Donald Trump has pushed for what he has dubbed “drone dominance,” signing an executive order that seeks to build a strong domestic drone sector. 

Skydio is already part of the administration’s movement, as it secured a record-breaking contract with the Department of War in March, making a $52 million sale of its drones to the agency, the largest small drone procurement from a single manufacturer.

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John Deere’s U.S. Manufacturing Highlighted at White House Agriculture Celebration, Company Applauds New Announcements That Support Farmers

John Deere’s U.S. Manufacturing Highlighted at White House Agriculture Celebration, Company Applauds New Announcements That Support Farmers | American Ag Network

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Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Expands U.S. Manufacturing and Advances Breakthrough Therapies

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