Procter & Gamble’s manufacturing plant in West Virginia is the largest P&G production facility in the world.
Pantene, Old Spice, Swiffer, Gain — take a look at the names in your toiletry bag or cleaning supplies and you’re likely to see one, if not more, products manufactured by Procter & Gamble (P&G), the world’s largest consumer goods company. What you may not realize, however, is that those products, and many others, are made at P&G’s Tabler Station facility in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
P&G was established in 1837. It is headquartered in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio, but has operations in 70 countries worldwide and two dozen manufacturing facilities in the United States alone.
“But Tabler Station is the only one in West Virginia, and one of our largest sites overall,” says Patrick Winkelman, health, safety and environmental director for P&G Tabler Station.
Plans for building P&G Tabler Station were first announced in February 2015, and ground was broken later that fall. The $500 million state-of-the-art megafacility, which spans approximately 450 acres with 2.5 million square feet under roof, was the second manufacturing site that P&G had built since 1971. The LEED Silver Certified plant is one of P&G’s most technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable sites.
Three years of construction later, P&G Tabler Station began manufacturing its first product, Bounce dryer sheets. Now, more than two dozen products — including over 200 varieties of body wash, shampoo and conditioner as well as several fabric and home care brands — are manufactured there. Being able to streamline and standardize the manufacturing process of these products in one strategic location was of significant importance, Winkelman says.
“P&G was looking to make this a very synchronized site for their multiple product lines,” he explains. “Now, all of P&G’s hand and dish soap, shampoo and body wash are all made on-site at P&G Tabler Station, down to the bottles and caps.”
P&G Tabler Station is located off Interstate 81 in Inwood, just a few miles from Martinsburg in Berkeley County. The company has been working to redesign its North American supply network, reducing the amount of time it takes for products to travel to consumers; so, the facility’s proximity to metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, as well as easy highway access to 80% of the rest of the East Coast, was a huge draw.
“The location is especially convenient, with many parts of the country within a day’s travel,” says Winkelman.
West Virginia’s workforce was another benefit.
“West Virginia had an available skilled workforce needed to fill the positions at P&G Tabler Station,” says Winkelman. “It’s a business-friendly state, and Berkeley County has been welcoming and supportive.”
With its focus on automation and innovative processes, P&G Tabler Station has recognized its need for a highly trained workforce, leading to its partnership with Blue Ridge Community & Technical College (BRCTC). BRCTC offers credit opportunities to P&G employees as well as certificate options (Skilled Enhancement, P&G Customized Advanced Skill Set, Applied Science) and degree pathways (Associate of Applied Science with multiple specializations).
Though no specific expansion plans have been announced recently, Winkelman says that P&G is “always looking for investment opportunities.”
In addition to its positive economic impact, P&G and its Tabler Station employees give back to their communities, volunteering their time, making financial contributions and donating products to area nursing homes, schools and other nonprofit organizations in West Virginia and nearby Maryland and Virginia.
“P&G as a company is one of the largest contributors to the United Way,” says Winkelman. “Locally, that includes the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle. We have donated $300,000 in sponsorships in the tri-county area. Our employees serve on numerous nonprofit boards. We encourage them to be active in the community.”
P&G Tabler Station became a Chamber member earlier this year, and Winkelman, who facilitated the connection after being a part of the Chamber’s Leadership West Virginia program, says the company plans to be more involved going forward.
“We can help further build and strengthen their network with other leaders in our area, and that’s what we hope to do as we become more active within the organization,” Winkelman asserts. “It will be a great opportunity for both sides.”