Bearings company expanding in Powhatan

Lignum Vitae North America is expanding in Powhatan County.

A producer of water-lubricated bearings for industries including marine, hydropower, wind energy and water treatment, the company is expanding to include a new 13,000-square-foot research and production facility, according to Powhatan County Economic Development.

The facility, which will cost roughly $1 million, will house engineering, design, sales and marketing operations under one roof.

Lignum Vitae North America has also hired two additional employees for sales who will cover the U.S. and Canada. It now has seven full-time employees.

The Powhatan firm’s bearings are made of lignum vitae hardwood, a unique species of wood from Central America.

Bob Shortridge Sr., the owner and president of Lignum Vitae, has been creating the bearings since 2008.