Water-quality company picks Newark for expansion

LaMotte to invest $3.3 million in Pencader Corporate Center site, adding more than 100 new jobs

By Logan B. Anderson
Posted 2/28/22

NEWARK — Citing proximity to Delaware’s colleges and universities, a century old water-quality company is expanding to the First State.

The LaMotte Company, a producer of …

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Water-quality company picks Newark for expansion

LaMotte to invest $3.3 million in Pencader Corporate Center site, adding more than 100 new jobs

Posted

NEWARK — Citing proximity to Delaware’s colleges and universities, a century-old water-quality company is expanding to the First State.

The LaMotte Co., a producer of water-quality testing instrumentation and reagents, headquartered in Chestertown, Maryland, announced plans Monday to invest $3.3 million to build out lab space at the Pencader Corporate Center, south of Newark. The 79,000-square-foot site also will include office and production areas.

Company officials said a growth in sales prompted LaMotte to increase its manufacturing, research and development capacity.

“We are thrilled to continue our expansion plans, culminating in this investment in Delaware,” said LaMotte president and CEO Scott Amsbaugh. “The Newark location is highly valuable for us given the skilled and educated local workforce and its proximity to global shipping hubs. This investment is critical in our capacity expansion to meet our customers’ growing demands for LaMotte’s products.”

As part of Monday’s announcement, LaMotte leaders said the company will immediately hire more than 50 employees and plans to have more than 100 people working at the site within three years. The positions will include skilled technicians, production line and warehouse workers, administrative positions, engineers and chemists.

Proximity to the intellectual resources of the University of Delaware was a key reason for LaMotte’s choice of Newark over other mid-Atlantic locations. The firm intends to collaborate with UD’s College of Engineering and Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics to develop an internship and employee pipeline.

It also plans to partner with the state’s vocational high schools and Delaware Technical Community College to address its needs for technician and manufacturing personnel.
To assist with funding for its expansion, LaMotte reached out to the Delaware Prosperity Partnership. The economic development engine began working with LaMotte on its site-selection process in June 2021.

“We are working hard to make Delaware more competitive, so that we can compete and win every day,” said Gov. John Carney. “That means making sure we have the best environment, so businesses like LaMotte Co. can grow and thrive here in Delaware. We are excited for this expansion and the new jobs it will bring. This investment shows that Delaware remains in demand for manufacturing and innovative development.”

LaMotte officials presented to Delaware’s Council on Development Finance, requesting a performance-based grant of $190,440 and a lab space grant of almost $1.06 million from the Delaware Strategic Fund. Distribution of grants from the fund are dependent on the company meeting commitments outlined to CDF, which reviewed and approved the request.

“We are excited to learn of LaMotte Co.’s plans to expand to New Castle County,” said County Executive Matt Meyer. “We also thank the leadership and vision of Delaware Prosperity Partnership in helping to bring exciting and innovative employment opportunities to Delawareans.”

Founded in Baltimore, LaMotte has manufactured specialized pH indicators and other analytical reagents for water-quality analysis worldwide since 1919. Today, the company produces analytical reagents, electronic instrumentation and complete portable test kits for chemical analysis for the industries of pool and spa, drinking water, industrial water, environmental science education, food and beverage, laundry and sanitation, water and wastewater, and aquarium and fish farming.

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