Scott Bader: A Century-Old British Manufacturer Opens Its First US Operation at SouthPoint Mocksville
Scott Bader, a British chemical manufacturer founded in 1921 and employee owned since 1951, chose SouthPoint Business Park in Mocksville, North Carolina for its first United States operation. The company invested $16 million in the 108,960 square foot Hollingsworth building, converting it to produce gelcoats and structural adhesives.
At a glance
| Client | Scott Bader |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gelcoats, structural adhesives, composites, functional polymers |
| Company | Founded 1921; employee owned through a charitable trust since 1951, and by its structure cannot be acquired |
| Location | SouthPoint Business Park, Mocksville, NC |
| Building | 108,960 SF on a 15 acre site |
| Investment | $16 million; 27 new jobs including manufacturing, R&D, HR, and commercial roles |
| Milestone | Scott Bader's first US operation and second North American manufacturing site |
| Outcome | Site brought to full operation, producing gelcoats and structural adhesives under GMP conditions |
Who is Scott Bader?
Scott Bader is a British manufacturer of composites, advanced composites, adhesives, and functional polymers, founded in 1921 and owned by its employees through a charitable trust since 1951.
Scott Bader's ownership structure means the company cannot be acquired, which makes its decisions unusually long term. When a hundred year old employee owned company picks the site for its first United States operation, it is choosing a home, not a stopover. The company operates seven manufacturing sites worldwide, and Mocksville became its beachhead for North American growth.
What did Scott Bader need?
Scott Bader needed a building in the eastern United States that could support chemical manufacturing under GMP conditions, available without a ground-up construction timeline.
Establishing a first operation in a new country compounds every normal project risk: unfamiliar permitting, an unknown labor market, and a supply chain being built from scratch. The Hollingsworth building at SouthPoint Business Park took the real estate variable off the table. The 108,960 square foot building on 15 acres was standing when the decision was made, in a park that had already absorbed manufacturers from the UK, China, and across the US.
How did The Hollingsworth Companies help?
Hollingsworth provided the standing building at SouthPoint Mocksville that let Scott Bader move from decision to fit-out without waiting on construction.
Scott Bader moved into the building in October 2021 and invested $16 million converting it for production of gelcoats and structural adhesives, creating 27 jobs across manufacturing, R&D, HR, and commercial support. SouthPoint Mocksville sits on I-40 between I-85 and I-77, positioning the operation to serve composites and adhesives customers across the East Coast.
What were the results?
Scott Bader brought its Mocksville site to full operation, anchoring the company's North American growth strategy from a Hollingsworth building.
The company's own announcement called out the investment as a statement of commitment to the North American market. For SouthPoint Mocksville, Scott Bader joined an international tenant roster that includes Dunlop Aircraft Tyres' first US retreading operation, evidence that the park works as an entry point for overseas manufacturers establishing their first American operation.
This latest investment makes clear our commitment to the North American market, as well as to our global growth strategy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Scott Bader make at SouthPoint Mocksville?
Gelcoats and structural adhesives, including primerless structural adhesive products, produced under GMP conditions in a 108,960 square foot Hollingsworth building.
Why did Scott Bader choose Mocksville for its first US operation?
A standing Hollingsworth building at SouthPoint Business Park removed construction risk from an already complex first-country entry, with I-40 access between I-85 and I-77 serving East Coast customers.
Does Hollingsworth work with international companies entering the US?
Yes. SouthPoint Mocksville alone has hosted Scott Bader's first US operation and Dunlop Aircraft Tyres' first US retreading operation, and Hollingsworth parks across the Southeast serve manufacturers from Europe and Asia.
How large was Scott Bader's investment in Mocksville?
$16 million, creating 27 jobs across manufacturing, R&D, HR, and commercial support roles.