Improving Business in the Wilmington Region

POLYHOSE CONTINUES GROWING AT PENDER COMMERCE PARK

Indian Maker of Industrial Hoses and Fittings to Double Size of its Current Building

February 29, 2024 (Wilmington, N.C.) – Polyhose Inc., the India-based manufacturer of industrial hoses and fittings, is set to double the size of its Greater Wilmington facility less than five years after establishing a U.S. outpost at Pender Commerce Park.

Polyhose India Private Limited’s U.S. division is set to commence Phase 2 of its expansion plan, continuing the strategy unveiled in late 2019. Governor Roy Cooper, alongside senior company officials, announced Greater Wilmington as the North American base for Polyhose’s assembly and logistics operations. Headquartered in Chennai, India, the U.S. unit supplies some of the world’s leading automotive and construction equipment names, boasting a global workforce of 3,000 and extensive operations across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

As Polyhose embarks on Phase 2 of its substantial investment at Pender Commerce Park it is also eyeing longer-range needs. Polyhose recently committed to just over eight additional acres, adjacent to its current property, for long-term growth. The parcel is known as Lot 4.

“Polyhose performs 100 percent of the time – that’s our mission statement, and we’re proud to bring that mission to our North American customer base,” says Mo Millwala, president of Polyhose Inc. Since arriving in Greater Wilmington, the company has grown its brand presence in the U.S. and neighboring countries. “As we are getting more situated in North America, more opportunities are coming our way,” Millwala says. “We are also leveraging our existing relationships to grow our business in North America.”

Polyhose’s expansion at Pender Commerce Park is the latest success for the 350-acre industrial property off U.S. Highway 421, north of Wilmington. Pender County leaders have collaborated with Wilmington Business Development (WBD) since 2006, exploring property feasibility, conducting due diligence, and planning infrastructure. In 2014, Acme Smoked Fish, a New York City-based consumer foods company, became the park’s first tenant, opening a significant East Coast processing facility. Acme’s move brought industrial-quality utilities to the park, attracting logistics and distribution operations like Empire Distributors, FedEx Freight, Coastal Beverage, Amazon, Maersk, and The Home Depot.

Today, employers at Pender Commerce Park draw their workforce from a five-county area encompassing Bladen and Columbus counties. It is a thriving hub, hosting over 1,000 jobs and providing more than one million square feet of industrial and administrative space.

Pender County Commissioner Chairman Brad George welcomed news of Polyhose’s expansion as the latest evidence that Pender Commerce Park is a winning investment for the county. “Pender Commerce Park created a global economic gateway for our county, and Polyhose’s success here positions us for continued domestic and foreign investment,” George says. “Today’s announcement also showcases the benefits of strong existing-industry support, and we credit our partners at Wilmington Business Development (WBD) for their hard work in helping take Polyhose to the next level.”

Polyhose’s expansion is supported by Wilmington’s McKinley Building Corporation and Becker Morgan Group, an engineering and architecture firm, with completion expected by the first quarter of 2025.

Since arriving at Pender Commerce Park, Polyhose has been forward-thinking in developing robust relationships with community partners, including economic developers and educational institutions. “The proof has certainly been in the pudding as far as our association with Wilmington and the local community is concerned,” explains Fatema Mo, vice president of marketing and human resources at Polyhose. “This is why expanding further was nothing but inevitable and an organic decision. A number of factors made it very easy for us to strengthen our roots here – excellent support from WBD, strong resources that have helped us build a phenomenal team and most importantly, a sense of family! We hope our association continues to get stronger and we are able to look at different ways in which we can contribute to the community and grow together,” Fatema adds.

Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development, says additional foreign direct investment integrates Greater Wilmington more closely with the global marketplace in a way that boosts economic resilience for the region. “Polyhose’s exciting growth plans here bring additional capital investment from one of the world’s leading hose, fittings and accessories suppliers and we’re proud that our region has become such a key part of their story,” Satterfield says. “We look forward to building on the partnership we’ve put into place with this impressive company and congratulate them on the success that has led to this expansion.”

Founded in 1956, Wilmington Business Development oversees business recruitment and industrial retention for the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and Pender County. A private, non-profit organization, WBD supports members, partners and allies through an array of technical expertise, leadership resources and value-added business services. For additional information, visit www.wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com
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