Thermafoam R-Control LLC is branching out in Jacksonville, Ark., adding expanded polystyrene block manufacturing to its structurally insulated panel business there.
The company, based in Hillsboro, Texas, is doubling the Jacksonville plant's size to about 100,000 square feet, Bryan Walsh, Thermafoam vice president and general manager, said in an April 13 phone interview.
Thermafoam hopes to complete work there in the third quarter, but will be able to provide product before then through a sister company, Powerfoam LLC in Midlothian, Texas.
By 2024, Thermafoam plans to have a fourth plant, this one in eastern Tennessee to cover the country's Southeast, President J. Michael Power said by phone. The location hasn't been finalized yet, but will be between Nashville and Chattanooga.
The $3 million Jacksonville expansion includes a new mold and a "substantial" amount of automated downstream equipment.
Thermafoam's R-Control is a strong but lightweight material used in construction, packaging, and geotechnical and industrial applications.
Walsh said the company is looking to hire an undetermined number of employees.