Automotive supplier to create 109 jobs in Sanford

Dowa Thermotech Co. Ltd. will invest $22.5 million in the Sanford plant, creating 109 jobs.

"I hear that North Carolina has been chosen as the easiest state to live at all times, and it is truly our honor to build our new factory in this a wonderful state," Ryuji Tsuji, president of Dowa Thermotech, said in a statement. "We dream of building a great factory in this area."

Dowa Thermotech, which is based in Nagoya, Japan, provides heat protection for metal engine parts, transmissions and other rotating elements that operate in harsh environments.

Once the company fills all of the positions, the annual payroll of the new jobs will be more than $3.8 million, officials said.

The company qualified for a $220,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, which matches financial assistance provided by local governments to help attract economic investment. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job and investment targets to obtain the funds.

Dowa Thermotech is a subsidiary of Dowa Holdings Co. Ltd., a global company operating in a range of industry sectors, including nonferrous metals, metal processing and environmental management and recycling.