Pipe extruder JM Eagle continues to have an eye on expansion in China.
The company on Feb. 22 appointed Josh Randell to the new position of vice president of international development. His duties include being in charge of procurement of necessary equipment for two plants the company has under construction in China.
Randell comes to JM Eagle from owning Maskell Pipe & Supply Inc., a Fontana, Calif., distributor specializing in high density polyethylene piping systems and fusion equipment leasing and training.
“With the majority of his focus on the China expansion, [Randell] also will help identify new opportunities internationally,” the Los Angeles-based company said in a Feb. 22 news release.
He also will assist in an effort to convert two existing PVC pipe plants in North America to manufacturing HDPE pipe.
The two new China plants will make PVC and HDPE pipe, the firm said. JM Eagle President and CEO Walter Wang first revealed plans to build the plants in 2011, during a visit to China. At the time, the firm said it planned to invest $400 million on three new China plants to make PVC pipe, HDPE pipe and energy-efficient steel-reinforced plastic doors.
“I look to Josh to create solid and binding partnerships internationally as he brings great contributions and opportunities to our company,” Wang said in the release.
Plastics News estimates JM Eagle's North American pipe sales at $1.8 billion, making it the largest pipe extruder in the world.
