Plastic pallet, tote and bulk container maker Orbis Corp. is expanding into Texas with a new deal for both manufacturing and warehouse space at a former Rubbermaid site that closed years ago.
The Oconomowoc, Wis.-based company, part of Measha Corp., has signed a lease-to-own deal for 420,000 square feet of manufacturing and a lease agreement for 240,000 square feet of warehouse space in Greenville, Texas.
"This plant enables Orbis to expand its geographic footprint and increase production capacity to serve our customers with industry-leading solutions, while making an impact in the community," Orbis CEO Norm Kukuk said in a statement.
More than 190 new employees should be added within two years of the lease with New York-based EPM Partners, Orbis said.
"Orbis is bringing great new manufacturing jobs to Hunt County and we are very excited to partner with this world-class leader for the long term," states Hunt County Judge Bobby Stovall. County judges in Texas are the top officeholders in their jurisdictions, holding both administrative and judicial powers.
The plant is about 50 miles northeast of Dallas, and is expected to reopen by the end of this year. Terms were not disclosed.
Plastics News reported in December 2011 on Newell Rubbermaid Inc.'s decision to close its operations in Greenville in 2012 following a review of company's U.S. sites. A total of 490 workers were at the facility, which was part of Rubbermaid Home Products.
The building covers 1.03 million square feet and was sold to EPM Partners in 2020 by Fritz Industries. At the time of that transaction, sales agent Binswanger Commercial Real Estate Services reported the building had 626,682 square feet of warehouse space and 418,482 square feet of manufacturing space and was situated on more than 100 acres.
Fritz Industries, a maker of products used in oil field drilling and cementing, began operations at the site in 2014.