Phoenix Packaging Operations LLC is investing $20 million to expand its North American headquarters and operations in Dublin, Va.
The company has purchased a 75,000-square-foot building directly across the street from its current plant. The facility was owned by vinyl window fabricator Dove Industries Inc. and closed when Dove went out of business in August.
“We were looking to expand our business in the U.S. and our facility here … was already full, so the timing was great,” said Martin Faye, U.S. manufacturing director.
Phoenix — a thermoformer of rigid packaging and subsidiary of Grupo Phoenix — opened a facility last year that was about 100,000 square feet. The company immediately started building out the space and announced its plan for a $17.5 million, 100,000-square-foot warehouse expansion in April 2011.
The current 200,000-square-foot Dublin facility houses thermoforming and extrusion equipment, as well as shrink sleeve, decorating and printing operations.
Phoenix plans to move its decorating operations to the new building, which will clear space to bring in new extrusion and thermoforming equipment, Faye said.
The firm is experimenting with new barrier roll stock and monolayer structures, and with the new space it is considering bringing in new materials, he said.
Phoenix will add 100 new jobs to the location. The facility currently employs about 350.
Since opening 21/2 years ago, Phoenix has become the second-largest employer in Pulaski County, Va., Faye said.
“We pride ourselves in quality, service and innovation,” he said about the company's U.S. success. “We really don't have a stock item in the U.S. … every package we're offering in the U.S. is unique to the end user.”
Phoenix received several incentives from the state, including a $250,000 grant and support for job recruitment and training.
If the firm's growth continues at its current clip, it has the ability to continue expanding the Dublin plant — the main building could support another 100,000 square feet addition and there's room to the double the size of the new building, Faye said.
Phoenix is looking to expand its second U.S. plant in Chandler, Ariz., which serves customers west of Mississippi, he said.
Grupo Phoenix, based in Bogotá, has 10 locations throughout Latin America and the U.S. The privately owned firm company injection molded and thermoformed packaging, extruded barrier packaging, foil and rigid plastic lidding, and shrink sleeve film.
