A French manufacturer of plastic and laminated tubes used in a variety of industries plans to built a a manufacturing and distribution facility in Gaston County and create 131 jobs over four years.

CTL Packaging was awarded state incentives this afternoon worth up to $1.3 million if it meets investment and employment goals.

The average wage for the new jobs will be $42,466, above the Gaston County average of $33.956.

The company plans to invest $58.5 million in the Gastonia facility by 2015. Gaston County is donating land for the project and providing the company with $500,000.

This is CTL's first facility in the U.S. It also has two manufacturing facilities in Spain and one in France.

The company also considered sites in Virginia and South Carolina, according to state Department of Commerce officials.

The companies products are used in both the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, among others.

Lanxess Corp., a German manufacturer of high-tech plastics, rubber and chemicals, said today that it will open a new facility in Gaston County and create 55 jobs over the next three years. 

The company plans to invest $15 million in the new plant in Gastonia.  Lanxess received a $250,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
 
The Gaston County facility will manufacture high-tech nylon and thermoplastic polyester compounds that are used to design lighter parts for automobiles that help improve the vehicles fuel efficiency.

Demand for such products is expected to increase seven percent annually through 2020 as car makers move to meet stricter fuel efficiency standards.
 

With places in Friday's championship games on the line, the Durham Screamin’ Eagles and the North Raleigh Bulldogs take on football teams from the West today in the second round of the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.