C&J Industries is investing about $6 million to expand its facility in Meadville, Pa., to add its fourth class 8 clean room and boost its quality department, warehouse and office space.
The investment includes an initial four new presses, while the 25,000-square-foot expansion creates room for 24 new presses "as work comes in," John Carpenter, director of sales, told Plastics News in an emailed statement.
"Extra work lined up" for the new 12,000-square-foot clean room molding and assembly space will add about 30 new jobs at C&J, Carpenter said, adding that the development is part of "the company's efforts to rebuild its staffing and capabilities to pre-pandemic levels."
"Although the COVID outbreak in 2020 had an unavoidable impact on C&J's supply lines, the company was able to survive the pandemic without resorting to layoffs," he said.
The expansion, expected to be complete by February 2024, will also connect the facility's main building and finished goods warehouse.
"The facility upgrades will allow C&J to increase production volume, take on jobs of a larger scope, and expand services to new clients," Carpenter said in the statement.
C&J supplies injection molded components, assemblies and complete devices for the medical device, pharmaceutical, industrial, consumer products, and telecommunications markets.