American RENOLIT Corp (ARC), a leading manufacturer of high-quality plastic films in the USA, took a major step towards installing its new calender line “calender 35” that will extend the capacity of the plant in La Porte, Indiana. With all the key engineering work completed, ground breaking for the construction work started on Tuesday, June 26 and soon the first core equipment deliveries will arrive.
This tangible start of the project will be followed shortly with the launch of the recruitment process, which with thirty new full-time employees will generate an almost 20 perecent growth in RENOLIT’s La Porte workforce by the time the new line is fully operational.
Renaat Demeulemeester, president at American RENOLIT Corporation, said, “Ground breaking and the imminent arrival of the first major equipment components from suppliers for our new calender line is a major milestone for this investment. It marks the conclusion of the engineering phase and we can now focus on getting everything in place to start the first production trials on schedule and move to full production in 2019. That also means a boost to the local economy as we start hiring and training new staff to operate the line and support the business development, creating opportunities for both internal job growth and new hires.”
For RENOLIT, this marks the realization of the capacity expansion project that was approved and reported on last year in light of the phthalate-free manufacturing announcement made in 2017. The additional equipment will allow the company to meet the growing needs of existing U.S.-based customers, as well as develop new markets and applications.
The new line will incorporate the latest calendered film production technology including more environmentally friendly phthalate-free options but also draws on the seventy years of global know-how RENOLIT has at its disposal to meet today’s quality and cost competitiveness requirements.
The continuing investment in the La Porte facility with the aim of making it a showcase operation—ARC has invested over $100 million in refurbishing and extending the La Porte plant over the last eighteen years—highlights RENOLIT’s commitment not only to the North American calendered film business but also to the local community.
RENOLIT supplies flexible and rigid vinyl films for the graphics, label, furniture and exterior laminates industry.
