Jun. 10--MEBANE -- A manufacturing company that makes instruments used for early cancer detection announced Tuesday that it will locate its new facility on Corporate Park Drive in Mebane.

Becton, Dickinson and Co. purchased a 100,000-square-foot shell building and the adjacent 7 acres at 1018 Corporate Park Drive. Officials expect to invest about $20 million in the plant, land, equipment and technology to get the facility up and running.

When it opens, which is expected to happen in early September, the company plans to initially employ 40 people. About 20 of those positions will be new jobs.

"We hope to really have a growing and expanding footprint in Alamance County," said Wayne Brinster, vice president of Becton, Dickinson's Women's Health and Cancer division. "We find the workforce to be really good. The community is excellent." The remaining employees of the new plant will be recruited from the company's Burlington facility on Plantation Drive, which was acquired in 2006 as TriPath Imaging. Cervical cancer screening products are manufactured there.

Brinster made the announcement Tuesday morning to about 50 people who gathered at the Mebane Arts and Community Center.

Becton, Dickinson approached the Alamance County Area Chamber of Commerce last year. The preexisting 100,000-square-foot shell building, coupled with Mebane's location, played a role in Becton, Dickinson choosing the site.

"(The Chamber of Commerce) made the decision very easy to stay here in Alamance County," Brinster said. "... This was something we could take and get a jumpstart and still build a facility that truly makes us a medical production facility." In addition to the shell building, the facility has an additional 50,000-square-foot concrete pad and 7 acres to accommodate future expansion. Brinster said he anticipates that the company will eventually expand to employ about 100 people.

The company plans to begin hiring in late July or early August. The type of positions available will be a mix of highly specialized and manufacturing jobs that will require that type of experience.

The work will include assembly of the instruments used in testing for cervical cancer. Brinster said the pay will be competitive with other manufacturing jobs.

Becton, Dickinson will be the sixth corporate tenant in the North Carolina Industrial Park, which was developed by Samet Corp. Kidde, Sports Endeavors, Nypro, Badcock Furniture and Ford Motor Co. are the other tenants.

Mebane Mayor Glendel Stephenson told the group gathered Tuesday that it was a "great day" in Mebane and Alamance County.

"You are going to find a work force that knows how to come to work in the morning, put in a full day's work and are loyal to the people they are working for," Stephenson told Brinster.

Stephenson joked that with the addition of Becton, Dickinson, Mebane might have to soon change its sign.

"One of these days, we are going to stick on our sign, 'Mebane, North Carolina, the little city of medicine,'" he said.

Becton, Dickinson currently employs about 700 people in North Carolina at facilities in Burlington, Raleigh, Durham and Wilson.

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