CVN Vooner Paper Machinery, which has a plant at 1612 Industrial Road, announced Friday that it will be expanding into a much larger facility in the Mt. Pleasant Industrial Park.

Charles "Chuck" H. Wunner, president of the company, said the Greeneville plant has 16 employees, but expects to expand its business and add workers.

"The expansion will also include a significant investment in the purchase of new machinery and equipment. Over a two- to three-year period, the company expects to employ more than 50 employees," Wunner said in a prepared statement.

CVN Vooner Paper Machinery describes itself as "a design and manufacturing company of dewatering equipment" for machines that manufacture paper.

The company makes industrial water-removal and water management equipment for the pulp and paper industry.

CVN Vooner Paper Machinery, which has its main plant in Charlotte, N.C., purchased its Greeneville plant in 2003.

Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Friday, Wunner said his company has leased the 54,000-square-foot, previously vacant building located at the end of the main driveway in Mt. Pleasant Industrial Park.

The new location will give the company more than four time the space it has has had in its present 13,000-square-foot plant.

Wunner said, "Greeneville is a great place to do business and we are committed to maintaining and growing our operations here.

"We are extremely pleased with the attitude and work ethics of our present labor force and have no doubt we will secure additional qualified workers from Greene County."

Randy Harrell, the Greene County Partnership's president, said, "The company plans to utilize the services of the Career Center in cooperation with Walters State Community College to screen applicants and secure employees."

Harrell added, "It's been a pleasure to work in close cooperation with Mr. Wunner and company representatives."

The GCP's president added, "Anytime a company expands and add new jobs, it's great news for our citizens."

Wunner said his company has not yet hired any new personnel, but expects to do so. The business has been doing very well here, Wunner said, making international sales as well as those in this country.

Wunner was accompanied by his wife, Barbara, a co-owner who serves as the company's chief accountant.

The Wunners have homes here and in Charlotte.

A son helps manage Vonner's Charlotte plant.

Wunner said, "I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Greene County Partnership, Greene County Foundation, Tennessee Valley Authority and Greeneville Light & Power System for their assistance."

During the 1990s the Greene County Foundation created the Mt. Pleasant Industrial Park, which is several miles west of Greeneville along U.S. 11E. The successful industrial park became home to about a dozen manufacturers.

CVN Vooner's planned move to a much bigger Greeneville facility was welcomed by local officials.

Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles said, "This is certainly good news ... Greene County is hungry for jobs. We certainly appreciate you providing these jobs."

Greeneville Mayor Laraine King told Wunner, "We can't thank you enough. If there is ever a question or something you need, feel free to call on us."

Then, Mrs. Wunner used giant scissors provided by the GCP to cut a symbolic ribbon as photographs were taken.

Those in attendance, about 50 people, included the company's employees, members of the Greene County Foundation, and Green Coat Committee members who donned their green coats for the occasion.

Then, the guests were invited into the spacious industrial park building for a buffet sandwich luncheon.

Now, virtually empty, the building soon will be housing equipment that is to be moved from the company's smaller, present plant.

Wunner told a reporter he expects to sell the plant at 1612 Industrial Road.

CVN Vooner Paper Machinery said in its press release it "was founded in 1981 to provide rugged oscillating showers and vacuum boxes to clean newer technology paper machine fabrics. The paper provides a system approach to paper-machine fabric conditioning to include the Vooner FloGard liquid ring vacuum pump."

CVN Vooner Paper Machinery is the successor to predecessor businesses that have been operating in Greeneville since 1984, making machinery that clean industrial paper-making equipment

CVN Vooner Paper Machinery in Greeneville recently was awarded a $14,350 grant to provide training to 15 employees.

"The Incumbent Worker Grants help companies invest in the future of their workers," said James Neeley, commisisoner of the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.