Ring Container Technologies Corp., which recently underwent an ownership change, is expanding manufacturing at two new locations.
The Oakland, Tenn.-based blow molder is opening a new plant in Hagerstown, Md., with plans to open another location in Louisville, Ky., later this year.
Ring, just last September, was sold to MSD Capital, which manages the investments of computer maker Dell Inc. founder Michael Dell and his family.
The new facilities are part of what the company calls a larger plan to expand manufacturing operations around the country. The Maryland site becomes Ring's 18th manufacturing plant.
"By locating our facilities closer to our customers, we are able to better meet their needs and support them in future developments," said Jeff Ullrich, executive vice president of sales and marketing, in a statement.
Ring is one of North America's largest blow molded container makers, producing both high density polyethylene and PET packaging. Ring was 15th in the most recent Plastics News ranking with estimated annual North American blow molding sales of $300 million and estimated overall sales of $400 million.
The Hagerstown location is an existing site being retrofitted to meet Ring's manufacturing and warehousing needs.
Ring has a network of manufacturing plants throughout the United States as well as single locations in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Ring expects to create 19 jobs at the new facility, according to Gov. Larry Hogan's office.
The company was attracted to Maryland by the More Jobs for Marylanders economic development effort created last year through state legislation.
The effort provides tax incentives for both new and existing companies to create jobs. Those opening locations can receive state tax, state property tax, sales tax and use tax credits.
"We believe that opening a new plant in this area is a great opportunity not only for our company, but also for our customers and the Hagerstown community as a whole. That's one of the many reasons we got involved in the More Jobs for Marylanders Act," Ullrich said in his statement.
The state program specifically targets areas including Baltimore, western Maryland and the lower Eastern Shore, described as areas of the state that need jobs the most, according to the governor's office. Existing companies that create at least five new jobs anywhere in Maryland also are eligible for wage tax credit.
Ring already has a manufacturing site in Hanover, Pa., about 50 miles from Hagerstown.
The new Louisville site will fill in an area along the Interstate 75 corridor between company locations in Sidney, Ohio, and Pendergrass, Ga., near Atlanta.
