Ply Gem to Add 200 Jobs at Virginia Facility

Ply Gem Windows, a manufacturer of window and door products for residential and light-commercial construction, will add 200 jobs and make a significant capital investment at its Rocky Mount, Va., manufacturing facility by the end of 2014, reflecting an improvement in demand for the company’s products.

“The investment in the Rocky Mount facility will ensure the local community will benefit from our growth initiatives,” says Lynn Morstad, president, Ply Gem Windows. “Through these initiatives, we are looking to bring our job count at the Rocky Mount facility to 1,100 associates by the end of 2014.”

New hires will include unit assemblers, coordinators, value stream leaders, process owners, process engineers, technicians and IT support.

“In addition to job creation, the investment in Rocky Mount is part of our company’s Enterprise Lean initiative, which includes manufacturing improvements, such as new extrusion tooling, equipment, products and information technology,” Morstad adds. “We are focused on enhancing Ply Gem’s product offering and customer experience to support planned growth from the housing market recovery, as well as improved marketshare from new customers and products. This expansion demonstrates the confidence we have in associates at the Rocky Mount facility to deliver superior products and service to customers throughout North America.”

“This continues a string of good economic news for Franklin County,” says David Cundiff, chairman of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors and member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “Companies from throughout the world are hiring and investing here because of the strength of our workforce, our low costs of doing business and our great quality of life.”

The investment was made possible, in part, by grants from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, Franklin County and the Town of Rocky Mount. Ply Gem also is receiving assistance from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance.

The current manufacturing facility was established in 1939 and acquired by Ply Gem in 2004. During its history, the plant has manufactured storm windows, aluminum windows, and window and door frames.