BIG COMMITMENTS IN SMALL TOWNS
Much of the plastics industry growth in Ohio in recent years has occurred in small towns and micropolitan communities. For some companies, like Whirlpool, General Electric and Parker-Hannifin, the small town option is a conscious choice.
The reasons? Work ethic, elbow room, family values, lower costs and a surprising array of amenities.
We selected the following new plants and expansions from Site Selection's New Plant database to show the major projects of the 1990s and the breadth of engineered materials activities in Ohio, as well as to document the contribution of small-town Ohio to the state's top ranking for new business.
Alpha Enterprises, Canton, new plant, 150 employees, 210,000 sq. ft. (1996)
American National Can Co., Bellevue, expansions totaling $26 million for production of plastic containers
Amko Plastics, Springdale, $14 million expansion, 300,000-sq. ft.
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Amoco Performance Products, Marietta, $15 million expansion of a polysulfone plant
Avery Dennison, Concord Twp. and Mentor, $17 million in expansions, film for pressure sensitive labels
Bayer Corp., Hebron, $20 million expansion to a thermoplastics plant
Cantair Polyair Corp., Youngstown, new $10 million, 150-employee plant to produce swimming pool covers and packaging material
Carrie Plastics, Youngstown, new $10 million plant for molded plastics
Central States Can Co., Perry Twp., new $11 million plant
Chevron Chemical Co., Marietta, new multimillion dollar plastics technology center
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| Ohio's Ranking in New and Expanded Plastics Facilities |
| 1989 - Present |
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| Top Metro Areas for Plastics Production |
| (out of 330 metro areas) |
| 3. Cleveland-lorain-Elyria |
| 5. Akron |
| 5. Columbus |
| 12. Cincinnati |
| 14. Youngstown-Warren |
| Source: Conway Data's New Plant database, 1990-96 |
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Cincinnati Milacron, Mt. Orab, new $10 million injection molding plant
Dow Chemical, Licking County, new $49 million plastic film plant
DTR of Bluffton, Bluffton, $35 million expansion of plant for auto parts
DuPont, Circleville, $20 million expansion of plant to produce polyester film
Ford Motor Co., Sandusky, $33 million expansion of plant to produce plastic injection molded auto parts
Frima, Cadiz, new $17 million, 300-employee plant
Geauga Plastics, Crestline, new 100-employee plant
Hartville Plastics, new 150-employee plant
Kelch Corp., Middlefield, new $9 million, 100-employee plant to produce plastic toy parts
Little Tikes (Rubbermaid), Hudson, 200-employee expansion
Manco, Avon, new $22 million, 300-employee plant and distribution center for weather stripping
Modern Technologies, Dayton, new $8.1 million, 150-employee composite products plant
Monsanto, Addyston, $30 million expansion of plastics plant
Myers Industries, Wadsworth, $12.5 million expansion
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North Star-BHP, Delta, $425 million steel minimill, 375 employees
Nylonge Corp., Elyria, expansions totaling $20 million for production of cellulose sponges
Park-Ohio, Euclid, 170-employee expansion
Plastic Suppliers, Columbus, $10 million expansion to polystyrene plant
Plastipak Packaging, Jackson Center and Medina, expansions totaling $50 million for production of plastic bottles and containers
Pretty Products, Coshocton, 135-employee expansion for production of auto floor mats
Progress Plastics, Clyde and Tiffin, new 200-employee plant to produce plastics for the auto industry
Robin Industries, Fredricksburg, 100-employee expansion
Rubbermaid, Mogadore, $16 million, 113-employee expansion
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| Things to Consider When You're Looking for a Plastics Plant Site |
| What's at the top of the list of items you need to think about when you're in the market for a new plastics plant? Here's a list we've compiled from recent interviews with executives in more than 50 Ohio plastics firms. |
| Quality transportation infrastructure -- for bringing inputs in and shipping final products out. Think about rail for your resins -- significant savings are available for volume shippers. |
| Utility reliability and costs, important if you are a large power user or if you need quantities of water |
| Services, like mold-making, color additives and compounding |
| Availability of skilled and semi-skilled labor and worker training programs |
| Nearby universities and technical institutes with strong programs in related fields (such as polymer science and chemical engineering) |
| Local regulations, permitting |
| Business climate -- how much does the community want your plant? How much red tape are they willing to snip so you can focus on your business? What incentives can you expect? |
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Shell Chemical Co., Belpre, $35 million expansion to plant for production of styrenic thermoplastic elastomer
Step 2, Streetsboro, new headquarters and expansion of plastic toy production capacity
USS/Kobe Steel, Leipsic, new $250 million steel coating plant