Plaskolite investing $8.8M, adding jobs in Ohio

Plastics sheet leader Plaskolite LLC will boost production and create 38 new jobs through an $8.8 million expansion in Zanesville, Ohio.

New jobs created will include entry-level machine operators, more experienced production leads, and supervisors and engineers. Plaskolite currently employs 123 at the Zanesville site.

Plaskolite plans to have one new production line operational in Zanesville by the end of the first quarter of 2025 and another operational a few months later, according to a news release from state agency Jobs Ohio. The expansion will more than double the site's production capacity and will allow Plaskolite to reduce transit times to its customer base.

The proposed project is directly related to the consolidation of Plaskolite's plant in Sheffield, Mass., marketing director Dan Draper said in an email to Plastics News. Production from that site is moving to Zanesville.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 1.2 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for Plaskolite for the expansion. The new jobs are expected to generate $2.2 million in new annual payroll.

"This expansion marks an exciting new chapter for our Zanesville operations, which have been a vital part of Plaskolite's success since 2000," President and CEO Michael Gilbert said in the release. "By increasing production capacity and creating new jobs, we reaffirm our commitment to this community and to delivering innovative thermoplastic solutions for our customers worldwide."

Officials added in the release that access to rail to receive raw materials was an important factor in Plaskolite's decision to expand in Zanesville. Ohio has the fourth-largest network of operating railroads in the U.S., with service from CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific and Canadian National. The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority is working to expand its rail transfer station to meet Plaskolite's raw material transportation needs.

JobsOhio will assist with the project through its talent acquisition services program. These services will be tailored to Plaskolite's needs, including selection and sourcing of candidates, as well as training.

Jobs Ohio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef said Plaskolite's "continued commitment to expanding [in Ohio] demonstrates the company's confidence in the region's talent and the value of the relationships the company has built at the state and local level."

Plaskolite makes sheet materials based on acrylic and polycarbonate for applications including windows, doors and lighting. The firm was founded in 1950 and has been majority owned by Chicago-based investment firm Pritzker Private Capital since 2018.

Based on sales, Plaskolite is North America's 12th-largest film and sheet maker in Plastics News' ranking. The firm has annual estimated sales of $740 million.

Plaskolite has made 23 acquisitions in the last 17 years, most recently buying the Vycom sheet business of Azek Co. Inc. for $140 million in late 2023. Vycom, based in Scranton, Pa., makes olefin and PVC sheet for outdoor living, graphics and other markets. The business also recycles and reuses 99 percent of its scrap, which officials said will expand Plaskolite's involvement in sustainability.