Decking maker Trex marks milestone for $400M construction project

Winchester, Va.-based Trex Co. Inc. topped off the factory at its $400 million production site under construction in Little Rock, Ark., with a ceremonial steel beam signed by company and state officials.

The event symbolized the collaborative effort going into what will be a flagship complex to increase capacity for the manufacturer of composite decking made from recycled polyethylene film and wood flour.

When it's done, the Little Rock campus will have buildings for decking and railing production, plastic film recycling and processing, reclaimed wood storage, warehousing and administrative offices.

About 500 new jobs are expected to created.

With $1.09 billion in annual sales, Trex is the seventh largest pipe, profile and tubing producer in North America, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.

At the topping-out ceremony, Trex executives were joined by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other state and local officials to sign the final structural beam.

"We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in the development of our new facility," Trex President and CEO Bryan Fairbanks said in a news release. "We continue to experience broad-based demand driven by strong consumer interest in outdoor living. This new campus will enable us to provide our customers with significantly better access to Trex products while strengthening our position for future growth."

The complex sits on nearly 300 acres in the Port of Little Rock and is Trex's third U.S.-based manufacturing location. It joins sites in Winchester and Fernley, Nev.

The new campus has the potential to be Trex's largest and most productive, according to Adam Zambanini, Trex executive vice president and chief operating officer.

"The facilities will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, employ proprietary technologies and [use] energy-efficient systems designed to drive optimal output with a focus on sustainability and circularity," Zambanini said.

For years, local officials referred to the confidential development plan as "Project Treehouse," Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, said, adding, "we stand with Trex to celebrate the vision of what existed ... on paper coming to life now at the Port of Little Rock."

Hiring has begun for management positions and recruiting for hourly employees will begin soon.

Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., said the community is "one step closer to hundreds of high-paying jobs for our residents."

Trex currently has more than 1,700 employees — a far cry from when it opened its first production lines in Virginia in 1993 with 36 people.

To introduce itself as a good new neighbor in the community, Trex donated decking and railing to Dickey-Stephens Park, which is the home of the Arkansas Travelers baseball team, to create a "Best Seats in the House" section.

Trex also sponsored the 2024 Little Rock Marathon and plans to support the event again next year.

In addition, the company is working with Keep Arkansas Beautiful to educate students across the state about the importance of responsible recycling through the NexTrex Recycling Challenge.