Berry Global Group Inc. is investing more than $70 million in its hometown for a thermoforming expansion that's expected to create up to 150 jobs.
The Evansville, Ind.-based plastics products company will install four new thermoforming lines in existing space.
"We're partnering with certain customers within our core food service portfolio to address unmet needs, introducing a new proprietary advanced solution to the market, at a lower cost, with improved functionality and sustainability," said Jean-Marc Galvez, president of Berry's Consumer Packaging Division, in an email interview.
Berry expects to add about 50 new employees each year during the next three years. Equipment installation is expected to "begin in the near-term," he said.
The installation will take place in existing space at Berry's facility in downtown Evansville.
"Berry has enjoyed a long history of operating in Evansville. During that time we have pursued many expansion projects in Evansville, for which both the city and state have been supportive," Galvez said.
Berry is receiving $1.5 million in conditional tax credits from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. as well as $100,000 in job training funds. The money is described as performance-based and tied to job creation.
"Because of support such as this we are able to, in turn, meet our customers' increased demands, while providing fulfilling and competitive jobs to local residents," CEO Tom Salmon said in a statement.
Berry makes a variety of plastics products including rigid, flexible and nonwoven offerings. The company had sales of $7.1 billion in fiscal 2017. In thermoforming, Berry ranks No. 7 in North America in the latest Plastics News ranking, with sales of $403 million.
The company has about 24,000 employees around the world, including about 3,200 in Indiana.
