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

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 20, 2006

SOLUS EXPANSION TO ADD 160 JOBS,
$4.25 MILLION INVESTMENT IN LEE COUNTY

SANFORD -- Solus, A System Plast Group Company, will expand its operation in Lee County, creating 160 new jobs and investing $4.25 million over the next three years.

The company, which manufactures conveyor components and industrial parts, currently employs 12 people at its Sanford location on Watkins Avenue. As part of its local expansion, Solus will move into a new facility and combine those operations with others relocated from another facility currently operating in Aston, Pa.

While wages will vary by job function, the expected average weekly wage of the new jobs is $690 plus benefits, which is higher than the Lee County average weekly wage of $631 not including benefits.

"Lee County was an obvious choice for the relocation of our Pennsylvania operations," said CEO Garland Jones. "Lee County Economic Development has offered great support and assistance regarding regulatory issues and permitting, amongst other critical issues."

Another factor that lead to operations consolidation in Lee County, Jones said, is that the area offers access to local tool and die makers that are critical to many of its major projects.

Jones announced in August that Solus was moving into what has been known locally as the Shell Building, a 60,000-square-foot facility in south Sanford near U.S. 421.

The building was constructed by the Committee of 100, a nonprofit business support group that works to establish venture capital projects to expand local industry, promote economic growth and enhance working relationships among government, business and the community.

The Shell Building project also was made possible through funding provided by Central Electric Membership Corp., a local power cooperative.

Even that space may not be enough to handle the growing operation, because company officials are already considering options for expansion at their new site.

Solus is the most recent incarnation of System Plast USA, which opened in Sanford seven years ago to distribute European-made conveyor parts throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Soon after System Plast USA acquired Solus Industrial Innovations in January 2005, the local company adopted the Solus name, appealing to Solus' loyal customer base.

The company is now known as "Solus, A System Plast Group Company" and operates as one subsidiary of System Plast S.p.A., a global company based in Telgate, Italy, with other subsidiaries in Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Mexico and the Netherlands. The parent group also has partnerships with companies in France and employs more than 600 people worldwide.

The Lee County Economic Development Corp. is a nonprofit organization established to attract industry, enhance job opportunities and promote sound planning across Lee County. Funding is provided by the county, as well as the City of Sanford and Town of Broadway, the two county municipalities.

                                 -- 30 --

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

LCEDC Media Web:  http://www.lcedc.com/media/
This release:     http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr112006.txt