Plymouth Foam Inc. has more than doubled its manufacturing capacity in the Buckeye state by acquiring Pacemaker Plastics Co. Inc. Eventually, though, Plymouth plans to fold its Ohio operation into the Pacemaker facilities.
Terms of the Dec. 2 deal were not disclosed. Most immediately, the Plymouth, Wis.-based firm seeks to increase its presence in the north and southeastern United States and Canada, officials said.
``We already have one of the most extensive product lines of any [expanded polystyrene] manufacturer,'' said President Scott Roberts in a news release. A key to the deal, he said, is adding Pacemaker's manufacturing capability and product lines.
Both firms serve the construction and protective packaging markets. Plymouth has established two separate divisions to serve those markets, officials said, calling the product lines of each ``highly compatible.''
The firms have facilities within 50 miles of each other in the Buckeye state. Pacemaker Plastics has about 50 employees and two EPS production facilities in Newcomerstown, Ohio. The firm has 125,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space.
Plymouth Foam Inc. has a 40,000-square-foot facility in Beach City, Ohio. The firm has been making EPS products since 1978 with about 180 employees, according to Plastics News reports.
``The short-term plan is to maintain the Beach City plant,'' said Alex Miller, Plymouth's spokesman. ``But the facility and people will be folded into the Newcomerstown facilities within the next year or so.''
Plymouth built the Beach City facility in 1998.
Miller would not disclose production capacity, but said the move more than doubles Plymouth's Ohio-based manufacturing. Plymouth also operates facilities in Plymouth, Wis.; and Becker, Minn. Officials would not disclose sales of either operation.
The firm has distribution facilities throughout the United States.
