Camfil starts work on $37 million facility in Jonesboro

Camfil Air Pollution Control (APC), manufacturer of industrial dust, fume and mist collection systems for industrial processes, broke ground on its $37 million manufacturing and office facility Thursday (Nov. 4) at the Craighead Technical Park. The project, slated to be completed in late summer or early fall in 2022, will create 67 new jobs within five years to an existing workforce of 237 people.

Camfil President and CEO Armando Brunetti told Talk Business & Politics his company has operated in the Jonesboro area since 2002. The thought process behind building this facility was based on one critical factor – workforce.

During the last year and half, finding workers has been a challenge, he said. The labor market is starting to get a little better, and it’s always been good in Jonesboro.

“We extend our most sincere thanks to everyone who has supported our plans to develop this new facility,” he said. “The people of Jonesboro have been key to the success of Camfil APC, and we are honored to continue to thrive here and to contribute to local economic growth.”

In early 2020, the company was already planning to develop a new manufacturing site when a tornado destroyed its facility. Since then, Camfil has been operating out of three separate leased locations throughout the city. The new 290,000-square-foot facility will occupy 34 acres. In addition to space for manufacturing industrial dust collectors and filter cartridges, the facility will also house sales offices, warehousing and shipping.

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver said he was thankful that Camfil had decided to expand its operations in Northeast Arkansas.

“Camfil’s mission to protect people, processes and the environment make me proud that this global company operates in Jonesboro,” Copenhaver said. “And the fact that they have chosen to rebuild ever stronger in our city shows their commitment, as well as the fact that we must be doing good things for Camfil and its workforce in Jonesboro. So I want to thank Camfil’s global leaderships, Mr. Brunetti, and all the diligent staff who make Jonesboro’s Camfil facility a success for both them and our city.”

Gauging how this market will grow in the coming years could be difficult, Brunetti said, but he expects Camfil Air to broaden its market share in the industrial collections space. It could grow by 10% or more annually, he added.

Supply chain issues have impacted their operations, he said. Raw materials have been hard to come by for their product lines. Supply chain issues might impact construction of the facility, but they’ve got 245 work days to complete the project, he said.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who attended the groundbreaking, said he thinks Camfil is a good example of the state’s role in the world economy.

“Northeast Arkansas is one of the fastest growing parts of the state. Thank you for this commitment,” Hutchinson said. “We must make sure we are part of that global economy. We like to partner with companies like this.”