Fluoro-Seal International LP said May 9 it plans to construct a 60,000-square-foot facility in Katy, Texas, to house its headquarters, research and development operations, and some manufacturing.
The company, which does surface modification for plastics, worked with the Katy Area Economic Development Council on the project, which will cost $3.5 million and provide space for 40 employees. The nonprofit agency helped with siting as tax rebates for the move.
``This gives us room to expand and work on some new projects,'' Paul Banks, senior vice president of Fluoro-Seal, said in a May 12 telephone interview.
He said the project still has to go through a lengthy permit process, but he expects the building to be constructed within a year and a half. At that time, the company will be able to combine operations that currently are housed in two locations in Houston. The new, 40-acre site is about 12 miles away.
Fluoro-Seal was formed in 1983 and uses a fluorination process to enhance the barrier properties of polyolefin bottles.
Banks list three major growth areas for the company: treating plastic containers for multiple uses, such as packaging chemicals; modifying surfaces for adhesive and decorating possibilities; and treating plastic particles so they will adhere to a surface.
He said the cost of transportation is always a factor and that's why the company has multiple locations. Fluoro-Seal has plants in Allentown, Pa; Atlanta; Buffalo, N.Y.; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Houston; St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Yuma, Ariz. It also has two other captive sites housed at U.S.-based blow molders.
The company is working overseas via joint ventures and licensing, with operations in Canada, England, France, Germany, Australia and Mexico.
