Accuma Corp., a manufacturer of polypropylene battery containers in Statesville, N.C., plans to build a second plant in Bea-trice, Neb., and expand its present facility for a total investment of $15 million. Construction of a 55,000-square-foot facility in Beatrice is scheduled to begin in March, at an initial cost of $6 million, with completion expected in October. The company purchased 20 acres for the plant, which will house eight Italian-made injection molding presses initially.
Jay Rolls, vice president of Accuma, said the Beatrice plant will be built in three phases during a three-year period with a total investment of $10 million. Accuma plans to begin operating with 15 employees, bringing the total to 45 within three years.
Accuma chose the Nebraska site as a central location for serving customers in the Midwest, Mexico and on the West Coast.
``The Beatrice site will enable us to better develop existing business and acquire new business in those areas, with lower transportation costs, making us more competitive,'' Rolls said.
At the same time, Accuma is adding 57,000 square feet to its 106,000-square-foot plant in Statesville. Initial cost of that addition is $5 million. Currently, Accuma operates 35 presses and employs 90 in Statesville. With completion of the expansion, the firm will add 10 more presses, Rolls said.
Accuma Corp. is part of a consortium of battery manufacturing plants worldwide that operate under the Accuma Group name.
Rolls declined to reveal his company's sales or that of Accuma Group. He said the group operates about 150 presses worldwide.
