A global leader in the healthcare and consumer products markets has announced plans to locate a new facility in Northwest Ohio.
TekniPlex Consumer Products will invest in a 200,000 square-foot building in Van Wert, Ohio. The company expects to hire at least 100 people to support the new project.
Earlier today, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a Job Creation Tax Credit for the company.
Planned to commence operations in early 2024, and with room for future expansion, the dedicated specialty molded fiber solutions facility will further expand the company’s capacity and capabilities in this burgeoning, sustainability-minded niche, with a variety of products, including egg cartons. The local investment is part of the company’s $350 million investment in specialty fiber throughout the Americas.
“The new facility will combine TekniPlex’s specialty fiber capabilities with state-of-the-art technology platforms obtained through our recent strategic acquisitions. Notably, the Ohio plant will be our eighth such facility dedicated to molded fiber solutions development and production.”
– Eldon Schaffer, CEO of TekniPlex Consumer Products
Headquartered in Wayne, Pa., the company has 7,000 employees with 50 locations across the world. One of those facilities is a global innovation center in Holland, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo.
TekniPlex credited the Northwest Ohio work culture and its positive experience doing business here as a key driver in the decision to locate in Van Wert. The company also cited the significance of being located within one of the largest egg-farming states in the nation.
"As more customers worldwide seek sustainably manufactured products, TekniPlex is looking to Ohio to meet that rapidly growing demand. This investment in a new, state-of-the-art facility demonstrates TekniPlex’s commitment to innovation and its consumers while bringing 100 new jobs to Van Wert."
– J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO
For TekniPlex, the facility – its eighth in the specialty molded fiber sector alone – is the latest news amid a decisive molded fiber market push, one now comprising some $350 million in investments. The rise to molded fiber prominence has been both broad and rapid. In the span of just 14 months, TekniPlex acquired a trifecta of high-profile specialty molded fiber solutions players: Keyes Packaging Group of Wenatchee, WA; Fibro Corporation of Tacoma, WA; and most recently, EMATEC, which has five fiber manufacturing plants across Mexico.
Molded fiber is a renewable bio-based material derived from 100% natural, typically recycled paper and cardboard fibers, making it highly attractive to brands seeking to expand their bio-based packaging offerings. TekniPlex Consumer Products’ growth in this area exemplifies its materials diverse mindset, including capabilities to provide fresh foods companies with a broad range of packing and packaging solutions to help stand out in supermarket perimeters.
"Our significant investments in molded fiber solutions align with our ‘Rethink Responsibly’ mindset, which commits to continually considering what it means to provide responsible solutions to our customers, their consumers, and the planet."
– Jay Arnold, Vice President & General Manager, Fiber Business
The forthcoming Ohio plant signifies TekniPlex’s intentions to continue expanding its portfolio not only in molded fiber but also sustainability-minded materials – especially those comprising significant amounts of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, or composed of more recyclable resins like PET. Recently, the company exponentially expanded its GeoPack product family, which addresses various combinations of materials science sustainability’s “4 Rs” – reduce, recycle, reuse, and renew – including biodegradable or compostable materials, post-consumer recycled content, recyclability, renewable substrates, and legislation compliance.
TekniPlex also recognized the enormous contributions and support from multiple economic development groups, including the Van Wert Area Economic Development Corporation, the Regional Growth Partnership, and JobsOhio.
“We had a tremendous amount of support and couldn’t have done this project without them,” said Brad Midgal, executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, a consultant who helped in the site location search.
TekniPlex Consumer Products specializes in advanced materials science solutions for companies in the food & beverage and CPG industries with a focus on protecting products, strengthening brands, and innovating sustainably. TekniPlex Consumer Products serves companies around the world in sectors including beauty and personal care, household items, and food and beverage.
With an expanding selection of material-diverse solutions – bolstered in recent years, by a series of strategic acquisitions – TekniPlex Consumer Products is leading the way creating next-generation packaging designs that address real-world challenges in the markets it serves. Most notably, the company is focused on developing more sustainable solutions that continue to provide product safety and consumer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.tekni-plex.com/consumer
The Regional Growth Partnership is the lead economic development organization serving 17 counties in Northwest Ohio. As a private nonprofit development corporation, the RGP is dedicated to fostering regional, national and international business investment opportunities across the region. The RGP serves as Northwest Ohio’s network partner for JobsOhio. Visit www.rgp.org for more information.
JobsOhio is a private nonprofit economic development corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion. The organization also works to seed talent production in its targeted industries and to attract talent to Ohio through Find Your Ohio. JobsOhio works with six regional partners across Ohio: Dayton Development Coalition, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership and Team NEO. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.