 | greenville business & community directory |
|
This is an archived page that may contain outdated or incorrect information. Please visit www.Greenville.com for the latest news, events, and more.
The Greenville Area Development Corporation and Fabri-Kal have announced plans for significant expansion of the company�s operations in Piedmont, South Carolina, including the addition of more than 30 jobs, capital investment of $12 million over 5 years, and installation of another production line.
The additions to the employee base will occur over 2-3 years, according to Chris Allen, plant manager for Fabri-Kal�s Piedmont facility. Fabri-Kal, headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is the sixth-largest thermoformer in North America, and predominantly serves the foodservice and consumer packaged goods markets. Its diverse product line includes plastic cups, bowls, containers, lids and trays to support the beverage and deli foodservice segments. Among Fabri-Kal�s customers are many of America�s leading consumer brands � General Mills, Kraft, Heinz and Frito-Lay among them. �An unwavering focus on environmental sensitivity is a hallmark of the company,� Allen noted, calling the company a leader in eco-friendly plastics manufacturing. One unique product made in the Piedmont facility, Fabri-Kal�s Greenware� drinking cups, is composed entirely of corn-based bioresins that are annually renewable and compostable, where facilities exist. �The strategic expansion of our facility and team are important to Fabri-Kal�s overall growth plans, as we work to serve our clients wherever they do business,� said Allen. �We have a stable and dedicated team here in Greenville county, many of them long-time employees, and we are pleased to continue to expand Fabri-Kal�s operations in South Carolina.�
The investment includes installation of state-of-the-art equipment, expanded parking areas, and increased capacity to expand the productive space of the plant, noted Allen. �We�re continuing our philosophy of being strategically agile, supporting customers as they need us, and we need just the right talent, equipment, and team to do so. We continue to find the right mix here in Greenville County.� Fabri-Kal is a world-class manufacturer in the custom plastic packaging arena and a recognized leader in customer service. The company is noted for both its environmental sensitivity and for developing flexible production processes that allow rapid to-market packaging development. Fabri-Kal recently announced plans to open a state-of-the-art design and manufacturing facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan that will house Fabri-Kal�s Technical Center, Innovation Center, a large-scale plastic packaging manufacturing operation and warehouse space. That project is slated to open in the third quarter of 2008. �As we work to attract jobs and investment to South Carolina, it�s always great to see an existing company grow its presence in our state. Fabri-Kal is a leading provider of plastic foodservice and custom thermoformed packaging solutions with a strong presence in South Carolina. Their decision to expand operations here is another sign that of our state�s business-friendly climate is working to attract new investment and create jobs. We wish them continued success and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship in the years ahead,� said Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor. "Fabri-Kal�s decision to expand here in Greenville County is the result of a true team effort,� added H.G. �Butch� Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council. "Their growth will continue to create good paying jobs for our citizens, and affirms that specialty manufacturing companies can thrive and succeed in our state.� �We�re pleased that the leadership of Fabri-Kal recognizes the many advantages that Greenville County offers their company,� said Jay Rogers, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. �As a family-owned business with innovative processes, blue-chip customers and a history of positive growth, Fabri-Kal�s announcement is another shot in the arm to Greenville County�s growing business community.� (Image provided by FabriKal.)
|
�Fabri-Kal would like to thank the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), the county of Greenville, and the South Carolina Department of Commerce for their support in planning and executing this initiative. The GADC was particularly instrumental in helping us navigate the complexities of the expansion process to make our growth a reality,� Allen added.
