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Dialum Glass plans to open its first manufacturing facility in the U.S. The Santiago, Chile-based company announced that it aims to construct a 90,000-square-foot building in Ave Maria, Fla. The facility will also serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters.
Dialum Glass announced that it aims to construct a 90,000-square-foot building in Ave Maria, Fla. Photo courtesy of Dialum Glass.
The Collier County, Fla., Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $1.5 million in grant incentives to stimulate the move. The money will not be dispersed until the construction phase has been completed. Dialum will receive $500,000 upon completion and $250,000 each year thereafter for four years. According to the Naples Daily News, payments are “subject to Dialum being in good standing, with the facility open and property taxes current.”
Dialum director Fernando Diez Vida says the shift to the U.S. is a result of continued high demand from the North American market. The company has operated in the U.S. for more than 15 years, mostly in Florida. Diez Vida explains that the new manufacturing facility and showroom will be integral to the company’s organic growth and business evolution. Nearly 80% of the company’s products are sold to U.S. customers.
He adds that the move to Ave Maria makes sense geographically and financially.
“The Ave Maria region and Collier County are experiencing some of the most significant residential and commercial growth in the U.S.,” he says. “This phenomenon, together with the generous incentives offered by the county and the state of Florida, the proximity to the main commercial ports in the region and a committed workforce, are just some of the reasons that support our choice to establish ourselves in Ave María.”
Dialum’s new facility will be located in the Ave Maria Innovation Zone, which Collier County set up in 2015 to promote economic development by encouraging the construction of corporate headquarters and manufacturing plants. All taxes collected in the zone go to a trust fund.
Diez Vidal says the 90,000-square-foot facility will be built to accommodate future expansions. It is expected to cost $20 million and create between 80 to 100 jobs. Dialum plans to invest up to $25 million in the new building, including equipment designed to meet the needs of the U.S. market.
Diez Vidal adds that in addition to relocating to the U.S., Dialum will “continue to strengthen its presence in Chile and in the rest of Latin America.”
Founded in 1987, Dialum offers a wide range of products, including thermopanels, laminate, dream and curved glass, along with bullet-resistant glass, firewalls, color glass and shower glass, among others. It currently has four factories throughout South America.
