KLS Martin Group, which makes surgical instruments and implants, is expanding its Jacksonville KLS Martin Manufacturing LLC development and production facility with a $16 million manufacturing and office building.
The city approved a permit March 7 for WB Huff Construction Services LLC to develop the 53,203-square-foot, three-story addition to the single-level manufacturing and office building at 11228 St. Johns Industrial Parkway S.
The site is at southwest Beach Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff Road.
The first floor will be an expansion of the manufacturing area and the second and third floors will be new offices.
WB Huff is based in Jacksonville Beach. Prosser Inc. of Jacksonville is the civil engineer. Dasher Hurst Architects of Jacksonville is the architect.
In December, the city approved a permit for WB Huff to install the building foundation at a project cost of $500,000.
KLS Martin Group also has KLS Martin LP sales and marketing facilities at 11201 St Johns Industrial Parkway S.
The klsmartin.com site says Germany-based KLS Martin Group is the umbrella brand for the companies Karl Leibinger Medizintechnik, Gebrüder Martin, KLS Martin in Freiburg and KLS Martin in the USA, as well as subsidiaries and offices worldwide.
It says its products are used in more than 140 countries.
The Jacksonville plant was announced in 2016.
Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced in July 2016 that Germany-based KLS Martin Group was the “Project Arnica” that City Council had approved for incentives.
The announcement said KLS Martin Group, a global medical technology and medical devices company, employed more than 150 people in Florida.
Arnica wanted to create a Jacksonville location for a 3-D manufacturing printing plant and create 25 jobs.
Council and the state approved $420,000 in incentives for KLS Martin to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operations and create the jobs at an average wage of more than $70,000.
The city was responsible for a $125,000 Recapture Enhanced Value Grant tax rebate to be paid over six years.
Scott’s office said the focus of the company in Jacksonville will be on precision 3-D printing and milling of products for reconstructive surgery.
It said the KLS office will serve as the North American arm of the company’s global network.
The company had its KLS Martin sales company in Jacksonville since 1993.
The KLS Martin Group was slated to invest at least $5.3 million in information technology equipment, furniture and real estate improvements as part of the deal.
In September 2016, the city approved two sign permits for KLS Martin Manufacturing at 11228 St. Johns Industrial Parkway S.
In December 2018, the city approved a permit for WB Huff for a renovation and addition of 12,000 square feet at 11196 St. Johns Industrial Parkway S. at $3.15 million.
In January 2019, the city approved office build-out of 25,567 square feet at 11228 St. Johns Industrial Parkway S. at a cost of $150,000.