CORAL GABLES, FL – Spain-based surfacing manufacturer Cosentino Group, maker of Dekton and Silestone, is expanding manufacturing into the U.S. for the first time. The new location in Jacksonville, FL is the second location beyond Spain, building on the existing Industrial Park in Almeria, Spain and natural stone factory in Vitoria, Brazil footprints. Subject to closing, ground is slated to break by January 2025, with a target completion date by the end of 2028 and an estimated investment of $270 million.
This site is located on 330 acres 20 miles east of the Port of Jacksonville and minutes away from Interstate 10. The company notes the new location will help streamline distribution channels in North America. Cosentino anticipates Phase One of the expansion will create approximately 180 jobs, including production and maintenance operators as well as shift managers. Recruiting efforts are planned to start between 2024 and 2025.
“In the 78 years that our family has been in the surfacing business, this is one of our greatest milestones yet,” said Eduardo Cosentino, CEO of Cosentino Americas and exec. v.p. of Global Sales. “The North American market has come to represent more than half of our global sales since we established a foothold here in 1997, and has played a pivotal role in positioning our brand at the forefront of the industry. This endeavor is part of our long-term vision and has been in development for many years. We’re confident the new manufacturing facility will propel further growth for years to come.”
“As we considered different cities across the United States, it quickly became clear how much Jacksonville and the state of Florida have to offer,” Cosentino continued. “The facility’s proximity to ports, railroads and key infrastructure, coupled with expansion opportunities and incentives at the state and regional level, make this a win-win.”
This new facility offers the possibility of expanding the manufacturing of any Cosentino products, and the company is currently assessing which will be included in Phase One. The facility will adhere to the same standards and production practices that have supported Cosentino’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and safety, notes the firm. Currently, all Silestone products are produced exclusively using its HybriQ technology – a manufacturing process that uses 99 percent reused water, 100 percent renewable electric energy, zero water waste and recycled raw materials within its composition – all while reducing the levels of crystalline silica to less than 50 percent, the company adds. In addition, the company’s ultra-compact Dekton offerings have been certified carbon neutral since 2020, representing the only cradle-to-grave carbon neutral offering of its kind, Cosentino offers.
Additional phases of Cosentino’s expansion will continue to roll out in the coming years to support the logistical movement and storage of product, as well as further development of its product lines as necessary.
This marks the second major expansion for the international brand to Florida; in 2017, Cosentino relocated its Americas headquarters from Houston to Coral Gables. Cosentino employs nearly 6,000 people around the world, including more than 1,400 in North America to support its corporate offices, as well as 45 distribution centers, five logistical hubs, and its 10 showrooms across the U.S. and Canada. The company recently reported 2022 financial results of more than $1.8 billion in turnover, approximately $343 million EBITDA, and a net profit increase of 13%.