Sep. 17--Some towns name themselves after prominent citizens.

Other well-known figures are content with having their names connected to bridges or highways.

In the case of Robert A. Davies III, his accomplishments as chairman and chief executive officer of Princeton N.J.-based Church & Dwight has earned him the opportunity to have his name linked to a local liquid laundry detergent manufacturing plant.

State and local officials joined representatives from Church & Dwight on Tuesday to break ground on the Davies Facility -- a 1.1-million- square-foot Arm & Hammer manufacturing plant and distribution center planned for Jackson Township.

Here's an outline of the project:

--- When will the plant open?

This week, bulldozers and other earth-moving equipment worked on the 232-acre site on which Church & Dwight will build its Arm & Hammer complex. Construction of the manufacturing plant and distribution center will be completed by the end of 2009, said James R. Craigie, chairman and CEO of the company.

--- Which products will the plant produce?

Arm & Hammer and Xtra-branded liquid laundry detergents, Craigie said.

--- Why did the company decide to build in York County?

It considered more than 35 sites in six states before selecting Jackson Township. The land offers rail access and is close to major highways, allowing the company to cut down on the fuel needed to ship its

products, Craigie said. The plant, the largest in Arm & Hammer's fleet, will supply the eastern section of the United States.

--- How many jobs will the Davies Facility bring to York County?

The manufacturing plant and distribution center will employ about 300 workers total. Jobs will include fork-lift operators, line workers, maintenance employees, mechanics and security personnel, said Jackie Brova, vice president of human resources at Church & Dwight. "I'm not sure what the jobs will pay, but the wages will be competitive," she said. The company will start to hire workers next year.

---What environmentally-friendly features will the plant boast?

The plant's 30,000 square feet of office space will be heated and cooled by a geothermal unit, said Matthew Wasserman, director of corporate stewardship for Church & Dwight. Basically, the energy-efficient system works with the aid of warmth given by the earth and a ground-source heat pump. Also, the company is working to integrate solar power into the plant's architecture. One option would be to use to the power of the sun to heat water that flows through the plant, Wasserman said. Another alternative would be to use solar panels to produce electricity, he said. In addition to solar power, the plant's wastewater treatment plant will minimize the amount of sewage the plant puts out, Wasserman said. The processed water can be used in toilets and to clean tanks.

sadkins@ydr.com;771-2047

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