Adhesives and functional materials firm Henkel started work on a 35,000-sq-ft expansion of its thermal interface materials production facility in Brandon, NC to meet the demands of electric vehicles (EVs) and electronics manufacturers, a company release announced this week.

“The investment in our Brandon facility is a key part of our commitment to create value through our operations and supply chain infrastructure to efficiently meet the growing demand of our customers,” Christof Becker, senior vice president, operations and supply chain, Henkel Americas, said in a statement. “The expansion demonstrates our ambition to implement advanced production technologies and capabilities across our manufacturing network.”

Loctite and Bergquist products made at the Brandon plant are used in the automotive and electronics industries to improve battery performance during charging and discharging cycles.

The $30 million effort is expected to reach completion in the fourth quarter of 2023, creating 20 new roles at the facility.

Henkel intends to pursue LEED certification for the expansion and the existing structure as part of its commitment to implement sustainable operations strategies.