Tultitlán, Mexico — Thermoplastics resins distributor M. Holland Co. opened a break-bulk terminal near Mexico City May 16, saying the facility underscores its commitment to Mexico and Latin America.
Located in a secure industrial park, the complex comprises 80,000 square feet of warehousing, a separate break-bulk and processing building with packaging and pulverizing equipment, and newly built headquarters offices for the company's Latin American operations, called M. Holland Latinoamérica S de RL de CV.
M. Holland Latinoamérica is a 22-month-old partnership between M. Holland and family-owned Mexican plastics and chemicals distributor Grupo Solquim, which was founded in Mexico City 47 years ago.
In July 2015, M. Holland CEO Ed Holland said the Mexican affiliate "will be the platform for our aggressive growth plans in Mexico and Latin America." Both partners contributed assets, including Grupo Solquim's polymer sales and distribution network, which serves 500 customers in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean.
"This expansion demonstrates our commitment to Mexico and Latin America," said Steve Armstrong, M. Holland's global sales director, at the opening ceremony, attended by 200 guests.
In a news release M. Holland of Northbrook, Ill., said the facility can unload two railcars simultaneously indoors and accommodate up to a dozen railcars on a secure rail spur within the industrial park. There is also "significant additional track storage in an adjacent railyard with daily switching," it said.
The complex's three pulverizing lines have a combined annual capacity of about 12 million pounds. The facility has two bagging lines, including a new high-speed form, fill, and seal line, with a combined capacity to bag up to six railcars per day.
According to Xavier Lebrija, M. Holland Latinoamérica's director general, the affiliate "consolidated two separate facilities in the Mexico City area into one highly efficient and perfectly located operation with ample room for our projected growth. In the process, we tripled our resin pulverizing capacity and doubled our bagging capacity."
Ed Holland added: "Our mission is to be to be a trusted partner to both suppliers and customers, many of whom need reliable supply chains in a global marketplace. We're making the necessary investments to be that reliable channel to market."
Founded 66 years ago, M. Holland sells 1.4 billion pounds of resins to 4,000-plus customers per year.