Johnson Controls builds automotive battery distribution center
The 400,000-sq-ft distribution center can handle up to 14 million units per year and create up to 225 jobs in Middletown, Del.
Johnson Controls, Inc. broke ground on a new 400,000-sq-ft distribution center in Middletown, Del. The company is investing more than $75 million in the facility, which will perform the charging, packaging and distribution of automotive batteries for the Northeast region of the United States.
The building, located in the Westown Business Park at 50 Patriot Drive, is set for completion in August. It will have a capacity of 8.5 million units per year with the capability of expanding to 14 million units. It will employ up to 225 employees at full capacity and the company will begin transitioning production to the facility throughout September and October.
Currently, Johnson Controls manufactures the complete battery at its existing Middletown facility. With the new distribution center, the process will be divided between the two plants. The battery core will be manufactured at the company’s existing plant, and then sent to the new distribution center as a dry battery. At the distribution center, the batteries will be filled with electrolyte, charged, tested and packaged for shipping.
State and local officials have been instrumental in Johnson Controls’ decision to build this Distribution Center in Middletown. In February, DEDO awarded the company $2.06 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund to assist with construction of the facility and to purchase new equipment. An additional $384,968 performance-based grant was awarded for jobs created and retained in Delaware.
Johnson Controls also received a real estate tax abatement from the town of Middletown for the next 10 years.
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