PVC compounder Wedlake Industries LLC is spending $10 million on a Tennessee expansion project that will help support two sister companies making vinyl records.
The project, revealed by the state of Tennessee, will create 46 new jobs at Wedlake's plant in Hohenwald.
That site is located between two record pressing operations in Nashville and Memphis owned by GZ North America, which recently acquired Wedlake. The Hohenwald site will directly supply vinyl compound to both locations.
The investment will make Wedlake North America's largest vinyl record compound maker while still allowing the company to serve long-term customers in other industries, according to state and company officials.
"The company's great people, facilities, and strategic location will allow us to support the music industry in Tennessee and beyond with the industry's most advanced and customer-focused vinyl pressing operation. In addition, Wedlake Industries' customers in other industries will benefit from our expanded and modernized facilities." GZ North America President Shawn Johnson said in a statement.
Tennessee Rep. Jody Barrett called Wedlake "a valued member of the Hohenwald business community for years."
"This significant project will create dozens of high-quality jobs for local residents and help strengthen Lewis County's economy," Barrett said in a statement.
GZ North America is part of Lodenice, Czech Republic-based GZ Media, which calls itself the largest record producer in the world. That includes eight record plants in the North America and Europe. Along along with Nashville Record Pressing and Memphis Record Pressing, the company also operates Precision Pressing in Burlington, Ontario.