Injection molder Blue Ridge Industries Inc. will invest $3.7 million and hire 13 more employees at its manufacturing plant in Winchester, Va., where the woman-owned company is based.
Founded in 1985, BRI manufactures a wide variety of products for the automotive, construction, commercial goods and electronic enclosures markets.
The contract manufacturer moved to its current location in 1989, then five years later added 50,000 square feet to it for a total of 75,000 square feet. In all, BRI has 100,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space.
BRI General Manager Jim Possehl told Plastics News the company "is pleased to be growing in Virginia" and will focus its investment on new equipment and capabilities as well as restructuring its engineering department and labs.
BRI operates presses ranging from 112-950 tons to mold commodity and engineered resins. The company has about 115 employees. In addition to injection molding, the firm handles product assembly, specialized decorating and rapid prototyping.
The 13 new positions being created with the investment are in engineering, production and maintenance. BRI will receive recruitment and training help from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which is a state-funded program that aims to reduce the human resource costs of new and expanding companies as well as create job opportunities for residents.
In addition to a skilled workforce, BRI's location with easy access to Interstate 81 also contributes to its success, according to Possehl. He said products can be quickly shipped to distribution centers along the East Coast.
"These advantages, along with proximity to several major manufacturers, enable BRI to be successful in executing our mission to create quality solutions through dedicated partnerships, integrity, efficiency, and teamwork," Possehl said.
With estimated sales of $12.5 million, BRI ranks No. 317 among North American injection molders, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.