Plastic strapping leader Polychem Corp. is expanding by adding plastic cord production in its hometown of Mentor, Ohio.
Polychem is moving cord production from RC Packaging Systems, a Detroit-based business that it acquired in 2011. Cord production is expected to begin in Mentor in October, according to customer service manager Ali Hughes. Cord made by Polychem is sold into agricultural, recycling, paper and other markets, she added.
Over the next three years, Polychem plans to spend more than $500,000 on additional manufacturing in Mentor, while adding 31 jobs there. The firm also will lease another 13,300 square feet in one of the building it occupies and will spend $200,000 on the relocation.
Polychem also is receiving a $10,000 economic development grant from the city of mentor for the project.
Polychem opened in nearby Willoughby in 1974 before moving to Mentor. The firm has annual sales of $150 million and is a major producer of polyester and polypropylene strapping.
Other Polychem units include PET bottle recycler Evergreen Plastics of Clyde, Ohio; machinery maker Polychem OMS Systems of Leetonia, Ohio; and machine parts maker Anderson Parts of Meadville, Pa.