German electronics manufacturer to add 100 Va. jobs

Germany-based Zollner Elektronik AG will invest $18 million to expand in Virginia, including boosts to its electronics manufacturing operations in Danville as well at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Leesburg, adding 100 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

The expansions include $14 million to expand manufacturing operations in the Danville-Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority-owned Cyber Park to develop custom electronics products for clients using proprietary technology, which will add 80 jobs. In Leesburg, the company will invest $4 million, and add 20 jobs.

Virginia competed with North Carolina and West Virginia for the projects.

The expansion comes after Zollner acquired Leesburg-based Electronic Instrumentation and Technology’s (EIT) electronics manufacturing services (EMS) division in July 2022. Zollner is among the world’s largest electronic manufacturing services companies.

“Zollner Elektronik’s decision to increase its market reach with the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities in Danville and U.S. headquarters in Loudoun County demonstrates the strength of our business climate and workforce that benefits diverse industries and locations across Virginia,” Youngkin said in a statement. “EIT has a long history of success in the commonwealth, and we look forward to building on that partnership with Zollner in the years to come.”

EIT has locations in Leesburg, Danville and Salem, New Hampshire. EIT’s founder, Joe May, served in the state House of Delegates from 1994 to 2014.

“Since EIT was founded in 1977, we have had a great deal of support from the commonwealth of Virginia and local government agencies in helping us grow and prosper,” David Faliskie, president and CEO of EIT-Zollner, said in a statement. “The acquisition by Zollner AG will give us the advantages of a global company while being able to maintain our Virginia presence. Our locations in Leesburg and Danville have workforce availability and are supported by complete transportation systems, so we look forward to continued growth through the acquisition by Zollner.”

Faliskie told Virginia Business in an email that the company as “aggressive growth plans” beginning this year. Openings in the company’s manufacturing areas including machine operators, hand assemblers, stockroom associates, soldering technicians, quality inspectors and test technicians and there are openings for buyers, project managers and engineers, he said.

Headquartered in Zandt, Germany and founded in 1965, Zollner Elektronik AG employs 12,000 people and has 20 locations around the world.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the city of Danville, Pittsylvania County, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance and Loudoun County to secure the project for Virginia. Youngkin approved a $360,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the Danville with the project. The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Support for Zollner Elektronik AG’s job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.