Bayer MaterialScience LLC and Americhem Inc. are moving ahead on expansion projects with a little help from the state of Ohio.
The Ohio Department of Development has awarded almost $300,000 in business development and roadwork development grants to the two firms. Ohio Gov. Bob Taft announced the funding in an Aug. 28 news release.
Bayer will invest $6 million in a 15,000 square-foot addition to its compounding plant in Hebron, Ohio. The project will create eight new jobs at the site, which currently employs about 140, the release said. The state is providing Pittsburgh-based Bayer with a $100,000 business development grant.
Bayer officials said the grant will be used to buy machinery and equipment for a planned global technical center and customer design center. The firm declined to provide details.
The Hebron site makes compounds based on polycarbonate, ABS and polyester. BMS is a unit of chemical giant Bayer AG of Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer AG's North American sales totaled more than $9 billion in 2005.
In Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Americhem will spend $2.3 million on a 2,000-square-foot expansion that will increase the size of the firm's headquarters and research and development operations. The city will receive a $180,000 grant for roadwork improvements related to the expansion.
Americhem will use the new R&D facility for color concentrates research, physical testing and analytical analysis, the release said. Americhem spokesman Scott Blanchard said the company will confirm details about the project later this year.
Primary products made by Americhem include color and additive concentrates made from polyolefins, styrenics, polyester, nylon and PVC and sold into markets for fibers, construction, automotive and packaging. The firm employs about 650 at eight plants worldwide.
Company officials previously have said Americhem expects to post sales of more than $200 million in 2006.