JELD-WEN adds product line at Alabama facility, creating 40 jobs

Jerry Underwood

WEDOWEE, Alabama – Charlotte, North Carolina-based JELD-WEN Inc., one of the world’s largest door and window manufacturers, plans to expand production at its plant in Randolph County, creating up to 40 new jobs at the facility, officials announced this week.

The expansion at the Alabama facility stems from JELD-WEN’s decision to move the assembly of patio doors from a number of Northern U.S. plants to Wedowee. The expansion will result in an estimated $25 million in sales revenue for the facility.

“This is exciting for our company. We are proud to have an opportunity to help the local economy grow and provide employment opportunity for a substantial number of local residents,” JELD-WEN Wedowee Plant Manager Terry Wiley said.

GROWTH PLANS

The new product line will make the plant in Wedowee one of JELD-WEN’s major U.S. door prehang facilities. The expected start of the additional assembly is Oct. 1, 2020.

“It is always great to see a local company in your area expand. JELD-WEN has been in Randolph County in excess of 19 years,” Randolph County Economic Development Authority Director Bryant Whaley said.

“They have done their part in expanding, and now we must do our part and fill those vacant jobs,” he added.

Previously, JELD-WEN’s Wedowee plant supplied doors to nationwide home improvement retailer locations throughout the Southeast, but the expansion means additional patio doors will be shipped as far north as Minnesota and Maine.

Over the next six to nine months, up to $500,000 in new equipment will be installed to aid in the assembly of patio doors at the Alabama plant.

“I am thrilled to have JELD-WEN in Wedowee. They are a great corporate partner for our community. Their expansion is a long-term investment in our community,” Wedowee Mayor Tim Coe said.

JELD-WEN, founded in 1960, operates manufacturing facilities in 20 countries, primarily in North America, Europe and Australia.

The company designs, produces and distributes an extensive range of interior and exterior doors, along with wood, vinyl and aluminum windows and related products for use in the new construction and repair and remodeling of residential homes and non-residential buildings.

(Courtesy of Made In Alabama)