German airlaid specialist McAirlaid’s Vliesstoffe GmbH & Co. KG plans to invest $85 million to open a plant and U.S. headquarters in Franklin County, VA. The project is expected to create 160 jobs. The company plans to build the offices and manufacturing plant, its first in the United States, in Franklin’s Commerce Center.

McAirlaid’s makes nonwoven composite materials that are used in products including sanitary napkins, panty shields, meat packaging and bandages. In a statement, the company’s CEO Alexander Maksimov said McAirlaid’s chose Franklin partly because of the county’s school system, job training programs and an available work force of “highly motivated people.”

“In combination with an emphasis on improving quality of life with recreational opportunities, conservation of the area’s natural beauty and an equitable tax structure, Franklin County is a natural fit for McAirlaid’s,” Mr. Maksimov said. Franklin officials said the project is the largest investment in the county by an international corporation.