LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 19, 2002

Contacts:
Bob Heuts, Director
Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant
919-774-8439 (phone)
919-775-5410 (fax)
info@lcedc.com (e-mail)
http://www.lcedc.com/media/ (media web)


ISM FASTENING SYSTEMS OPENS NEW DIVISION IN SANFORD;
MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION FOCUSED ON SOUTHEAST

SANFORD -- ISM Fastening Systems, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer 
of pneumatic fasteners and tools used to staple and nail wood, has 
opened a new division based in Sanford, according to a joint 
announcement made today by company officials and the Lee County 
Economic Development Corp.

The local facility will produce coil and strip nails used in a wide 
variety of pneumatic tools produced by ISM and other manufacturers. 
It also will stock the full range of products produced by ISM for 
distribution to master distributors throughout the Southeast.

Sanford is the fourth manufacturing and distribution site established 
by the company based in Butler, Pa., north of Pittsburgh. In addition 
to one in Butler, ISM operates centers in Herrin, Ill., and South 
Gate, Calif., near Los Angeles. Each site manufactures items commonly 
used in the region and stocks the full range of ISM products for 
regional distribution.

Work already is underway to renovate space formerly occupied by Unifi 
on U.S. Highway 421 North. With deliveries arriving daily from other 
sites, ISM Fasteners plans to begin distributing products from Sanford 
later this month. Limited manufacturing could begin as early as late 
May, with full production scheduled by August, according to Chris 
Britton, operations manager for manufacturing.

Opening a new division was largely a response to growing demand in 
the Southeast, Britton said. ISM established a small distribution 
center in High Point several years ago. As demand for products 
increased, it made sense to expand into the region. The 5,000-square-
foot distribution site in High Point has been moved to Sanford and 
expanded to six times its original size.

"ISM is known in the Southeast, but not as well as some others," 
Britton explained. "We see an opportunity here to grow. We already 
have customers in the region and we're going to serve them more 
efficiently. With the new facility, we will be able to expand our 
business even further in this market."

Though the company began its Southeastern venture in the Triad, 
Britton said, Sanford was the logical place to expand. Highways 
provide easy access to the entire market, he said, and the business 
climate -- particularly low taxes, reasonably-priced real estate and 
support from local economic development leaders -- made the decision 
about where to locate an easy one.

Britton also hopes to draw on a base of local workers experienced 
in manufacturing fasteners, those who worked for a competitor before 
its production was moved out the country. By the time ISM reaches 
full production, he said, the company expects to hire about 75 
employees to run the local operation.

Founded in 1938 as International Staple and Machine Company, ISM 
Fastening Systems is the largest single source of interchangeable 
nails and staples in the United States. It also produces wood-to-wood 
fastening tools for the construction, industrial and furniture 
industries.

Glasson Tool and Supply Co. of Sanford is a local distributor of 
ISM products.

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