RALEIGH, N.C.—Lynddahl Telecom America Inc. (LTA), a duct solutions company for fiber optics installations, will invest more than $5.6 million over the next three years to establish its first North American plastic extrusion production site in Belmont. The company’s investment is expected to create 54 new jobs in Gaston County, said Governor Roy Cooper in a release from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
“North Carolina is benefiting yet again from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Lynddahl Telecom’s decision to make Gaston County its North American home,” said Governor Cooper in the release. “Expanding access to high-speed internet is imperative to closing our digital divide, and having companies in our corner that are well-equipped to extend broadband throughout our rural regions puts us closer to high quality internet for everyone.”
Building on more than 30 years of international experience in the fiber optics and duct industry, LTA’s three founders established the parent company in Denmark in 2020. Having seen extensive success in Europe, LTA incorporated in 2023 as a subsidiary of Lynddahl Telecom A/S, with the aim of offering duct solutions for the North American market. The company specializes in product development and customization as a supplier of fiber optic duct products for the international telecom industry.
Lynddahl Telecom America will begin operations with a 55,000-square-foot facility to manufacture the protective conduits for fiber-optic cables.
“Everyone is increasingly expecting high speed internet everywhere—be it for remote work, distance learning, or leisure,” said LTA President Jacob Ulrik Petersen, in the release. “Over the next decade, historic investments into upgrading broadband access throughout America will be made, and this represents a major business opportunity for us. We have found a cost-effective method to rapidly deploy fiber optics in Europe and we are excited about being able to offer this to our American, Canadian, and Mexican partners.”
New positions created by LTA will include production managers, plastics engineers, administrative officers, and production technicians. Salaries will vary by position; however, the average annual wage is $60,315, exceeding the Gaston County average of $50,746. These new jobs could potentially create an annual payroll impact of more than $3.2 million for the region, according to the release.
“North Carolina continues to rank as a leading state for doing business in America,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders, in a statement. “I am proud to see our state compete to win more economic opportunities with innovative companies, like Lynddahl Telecom America, that will benefit from our diverse manufacturing workforce, affordability, and our shared commitment to digital equity.”
A performance-based grant of $100,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help LTA establish its new production site. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require matching participation from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina Community College System, Gaston County, the Division of Workforce Solutions, the City of Belmont, the Gaston County Economic Development Commission, and Duke Energy.