Corning Inc – the beginning
American-based Corning Incorporated was founded in 1851 and is now one of the world’s leading materials producer – manufacturing glass, plastic and ceramics and a range of innovative materials.
Boosted by strong growth, the company created the Life Sciences division (CLS). The division now boasts some 20 production and distribution sites globally, including three in Europe: Amsterdam, Warsaw and Borre, near Hazebrouck in Hauts-de-France, following the acquisition of Gosselin in 2010.
Corning Inc employs around 60,000 personnel, generating revenue of $14 billion in 2021.
Project implementation
The Corning Gosselin site in Borre is Europe’s leading manufacturer of laboratory consumables. The company has a 220-strong workforce and specialises in production for the industrial microbiology market.
Construction at the industrial estate at Ruitz will be Corning’s first greenfield investment in France. It confirms the group’s commitment to investing massively Europe. The group will ultimately meet all its European demand from this new French campus, reducing the need to import from its factories in North America.
Work will start at year end with commissioning scheduled in 2024.
Choosing Hauts-de-France
The Hauts-de-France region faced strong competition from Poland and the Netherlands. Having honed in on Hauts-de-France, and following numerous site visits in the region, Corning selected the Ruitz industrial zone near Béthune.
To add to the availability of the 10-hectare turnkey site and its proximity to the company’s Borre plant, 3 additional criteria swung the group’s final decision:
- Easy access to its distribution centre in Amsterdam
- Extensive land and sea transport routes
- Abundant labour pool, offering the group the necessary talent for the project
Local and regional partners supporting the project
The State, the Hauts-de-France Region, Nord France Invest, the Communauté d’Agglomération de Béthune Bruay and Business France have been pulling together since June 2021 when contact was first made with the group.
The reactivity and commitment of all the regional stakeholders convinced Corning Inc to break ground in the Hauts-de-France Region.
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