Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) has announced an investment in Corning Valor® Glass to build a high-volume manufacturing facility that will create over 300 new jobs in Durham County, North Carolina.

Adding capacity for Valor Glass in Durham is part of Corning's plan announced in July 2017 to invest $500 million and create 1,000 new U.S. jobs. This announcement follows similar Corning investments in the development and manufacturing of Valor Glass in Big Flats and Erwin, New York.

"Making this next-generation product requires a new, advanced manufacturing platform. We are proud to build this high-volume manufacturing facility for Valor Glass in Durham County," said Wendell P. Weeks, Corning's chairman, chief executive officer, and president.

"This progress is made possible by great customers like Merck and Pfizer, and the strong support that we have received from Senator Burr, Governor Cooper and the Durham County Commissioners, the White House Office of American Innovation, and FDA's Emerging Technology Team," Weeks said.

"We have been part of the Valor program since its outset and we are thrilled to take part in today's ceremony which celebrates the outstanding progress in the development of this remarkable product.  This technology is a critical advancement in pharmaceutical packaging," said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division.

The new facility will be constructed adjacent to a Corning Life Sciences manufacturing facility, enabling the company to realize synergies between the two businesses. It is anticipated the new facility will be operational by year-end 2019.

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