Just days short of being a year, Gray Construction completed construction and turned over the keys to the 91,700-square-foot Sumika plant in Griffin’s Hudson Industrial Park last month.

According to Griffin-Spalding Development Authority (GSDA) Executive Director David Luckie, the Japan-based plastics company will manufacture polypropylene compounds for the auto industry, more specifically, a plastic sealing coating for automobile bumpers.

The plant is expected to be fully functional later this month. It will then employ 40 to 50 new workers and run four shifts, seven days a week.

The economic impact on the community is significant, Luckie said. “They are investing around $30 million in their facility,” he said. “This will have a huge impact, on the surface, on property taxes. And, of course, this will improve the quality of life for all of the people they hire. That money continues to turn over in the community.”

Gray Construction, an innovator in design-build projects since the late 1970s, has been involved in the Sumika project for almost three years, said Phil Seale, vice president, manufacturing market.

“Originally, they had another location, but then decided to come to this area,” Seale said. “And I think they are glad they did.”

In addition to the construction of the Sumika facility, Gray is responsible for the design and a number of other aspects of the property.

“We even get involved in locating these facilities,” Seale said. “We provide a turnkey operation.”

According to Luckie, the Georgia Department of Economic Development provided assistance and partnered with GSDA on the Sumika project. Although Sumika’s products are manufactured for the automotive industry, Luckie said he does not expect a negative impact from the current financial woes of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford because the plant’s products are for Japanese car manufacturers.

“This has been a great project from start to finish,” he said.