SCBIZ Daily Staff

SUMTER – PhibroWood LLC has announced a multi-million expansion for its Sumter facility, operated by affiliate Phibro-Tech Inc. The expansion investment could hit $10 million and will allow the company to produce a new wood preservative called Sustain 20T, which was developed at the same site.

The expansion will take place in three phases over several years, said Dwight Glover, president of PhibroWood. The first phase is complete and included investments of $2 million to $3 million and the retention of 5-10 existing jobs.

As PhibroWood’s business continues to grow, it is anticipated that the second phase will boost investment up to $7 million to $8 million, and the third and final phase will round out the company’s investment to as much as $10 million. Glover said by the third phase, the local company will probably have added some new jobs, but it is difficult to tell at this point how many. The initial expansion included the addition of about 10,000 square feet of production space. 

“We’re extremely pleased with the introduction of this new product,” Glover said. “We believe Sustain 20T will be the leading copper-based wood preservative of the future.”

Sumter Development Board Chairman Greg A. Thompson said local officials and Development Board staff have been working with the company for about a year to bring the expansion to fruition.

“Since 1976, Phibro-Tech and PhibroWood have been employing our people and sharing the local tax burden,” Thompson said. “We’re pleased to take this community-company relationship to the next level with this expansion.”

“Obviously it’s great news anytime a company decides to invest in our community,” said Sumter County Council’s Chairwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney. “We’re pleased that PhibroWood will be expanding, and excited that this innovation took place right here in Sumter.” 

“I think the fact that PhibroWood researched and developed this product at its Sumter facility says a lot about our community and a lot about our workforce,” Said Sumter Mayor Joe McElveen. “We already know Sumter is a great community in which to live and work. But it’s also a great community in which to research and innovate.”

PhibroWood is a manufacturer and marketer of copper-based wood preservatives for the wood treatment industry. Phibro-Tech is a manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals for electronic and industrial applications.