The future of Crown Laboratories is so bright, it just might need to lather on some of its signature product, Blue Lizard Australian Suncream.

Crown is a shining example of manufacturers of prescription and over-the-counter products that are finding the Northeast Tennessee Valley an ideal locale.

“There’s no question that, as a distribution center, this is probably as good as it gets,” says Crown Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bedard, who consolidated all operations into one Johnson City, Tenn., facility in 2000.

Bedard says his company has more than 40 employees and likely will grow – in part because the nonpartisan Environmental Working Group in July 2008 ranked Blue Lizard as the top sunscreen for safety and performance. “We’re looking at further expansion, further growth in our brand, and continuing to build a pharmaceutical manufacturing presence as well.”

Under the Crown umbrella are two divisions, Blue Lizard and Del-Ray Dermatologicals, offering therapeutic shampoos, moisturizers, cleansers and prescription steroid lotions.

With an emphasis on neuroscience, hospital and acute-care products, King Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the region’s giant in the industry. Headquartered in Bristol, Tenn., and with manufacturing facilities there and in four other cities, King makes products to treat such conditions as chronic pain, hypothyroidism and insomnia.

Founded in 1994, King employs about 2,000 people.