Toter Inc., a division of Wastequip Inc., has begun production of its two-wheeled waste and recycling carts at a new facility in Salt Lake City.
Forty employees were hired to fill manufacturing, warehouse, purchasing and supervisory positions at the 60,000-square rotational molding plant following a major renovation.
Officials of the privately held company would not put a dollar figure on the cost to remodel and tool the empty building but they did say the investment reaffirms Toter's commitment to U.S manufacturing.
Another 20 to 30 jobs will be created over the next three years at the company's third U.S. operation.
“There's a great deal of pride in making things on American soil, and we're thrilled to add jobs in the U.S. With this new facility up and running, we anticipate that 100 percent of our carts sold through retail channels will be made in the USA by the end of 2015,” Wastequip CEO Marty Bryant said in a news release announcing the plant opening.
Toter sells its line of plastic products to municipalities and national haulers in addition to retailers like big-box chains and hardware stores.
Other manufacturing and distribution operations are in Statesville, N.C., which is also the company headquarters, Del Rio, Texas, and Acuña, Mexico.
The Salt Lake City plant will serve retail customers in North America and communities and waste haulers in the western United States and Canada.
“The new manufacturing facility will increase operational efficiencies and align with Toter's strategy of building products in the regions where they are primarily sold,” Bryant said.
The West is a growth area for Toter, added Wastequip marketing manager Kelly Rouse.
“But we primarily opened the facility in [Salt Lake City] to be able to service existing and new customers in that part of the country,” she said in an email. “In that case, it's more about being more competitive with shipping rates as well as more efficient with service standards and manufacturing operations.”
Toter uses a patented advanced rotomolding process to make its line of plastic products. Company officials say the process produces a medium density polyethylene cart that is easy to tilt and roll yet tough enough to handle the abuses of curbside waste collection for 15-20 years.
Toter ranks No. 5 on Plastics News' survey of North American rotomolders, with estimated sales of $142 million.