Roofing manufacturer IKO breaks ground on Clay County production plant

Business

Representatives from global roofing manufacturer IKO Industries Ltd., Clay County’s Economic Development Corporation and the Clay County Board of County Commissioners broke ground March 27 on Clay Hill, a $270 million, 300,000-square-foot plant to make residential roofing products.

The manufacturing facility is on 80 acres east of U.S. 301, at County Road 218, about 10 miles south of Interstate 10.

IKO said it will create about 100 jobs and is hiring. The company said it will begin operating in mid-2025.

From left, Clay County Economic Development Corp. President Crawford Powell; U.S. House of Representatives District Director Bryan Campbell; Clay County District 3 County Commissioner Jim Renninger; IKO CEO David Koschitzky; IKO Vice President of Operations Guy Tremblay; and Clay Hill Plant Manager Daniel Lindhahl broke ground at the Clay Hill construction site March 27.

The first of three production lines will manufacture shingles.

IKO Corporate Communications Manager Derek Fee said the project will have an estimated economic impact of about $1.3 billion on Clay County.

“It’s the first time we’ve built down here,” Fee said. “It will support a growth market for us.”

IKO, founded in 1954, is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Most of its U.S. facilities operate in the Northeast, but it has operations in Texas and Alabama.

Clay Hill is the eighth shingle production line in IKO’s North American manufacturing operations.

IKO paid $5.26 million in April 2023 for the 80 acres of timberland.

County commissioners approved incentives and a mobility fee exemption for the project in May 2023, which at the time was code-named Project Gator.

IKO Consultant Dan Redmond, left, and CEO David Koschitzky attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Clay Hill, the manufacturer’s first facility in Florida.

“The impact in Clay County is huge,” said Chereese Stewart, assistant county manager for the county commissioners.

Clay Hill Plant Manager Daniel Lindhahl relocated from Illinois for the job, but is from Clay County and attended Orange Park High School. He has worked for IKO for about 15 years.

“We appreciate all of the support that’s been given and provided for this project,” Lindhahl said. “We’re looking forward to building a successful operation with the state of our equipment and putting together the best team of people in the area.

“We’ve already started recruiting and building that team. We’re looking forward to building long-lasting relationships in the surrounding areas and we’ll strive to be a great neighbor.

He called his role “a dream.” He has been at IKO for about 15 years.

“I was made aware of this opportunity a couple of years back and it’s funny how things come full circle,” Lindhahl said. “I’m glad to be back.”