ASHTABULA, OHIO - Composites fabricator Molded Fiber Glass Co. of Ashtabula is adding a plant in Washington state and expanding another in North Carolina. In its first move into the Pacific Northwest, MFG is setting up a plant in Stevenson, Wash. Pre-production is expected to begin in October, said Richard Morrison, president and chief executive officer. The factory should employ 40-50 when full production begins in January.
Morrison said the company is leasing the 25,000-square-foot plant. If the facility is successful, Molded Fiber Glass could build a plant there, he said.
Initially, the plant will do assembly and finishing. Plans call for some open molding, and possibly resin transfer molding.
Morrison said the plant will serve several customers in the Northwest. The firm also wants new customers in the region.
``We want to expand the pie,'' he said.
The dollar amount of the investment was not available.
Markets include transportation, construction and electrical products.
In North Carolina, MFG recently purchased 8 acres adjacent to the 12-acre site on which its Morganton plant sits. The company plans to add 30,000 square feet at a cost of $2 million.
The company purchased the original 47,000-square-foot facility, formerly owned by Molded Plastic Industries Inc., a year ago, and announced expansion plans almost immediately.
Morrison said the addition will house primarily the assembly and finishing operations, and is phase one of a two-phase expansion. The Morganton plant employs 110, with an additional 50 to be hired after the expansion is completed in January.
