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Arnco, a leading supplier of polyurethane flatproofing products for tires, recently opened a new 112,000-square-foot facility in Berea, Ohio. |
July 21, 2005 — The recent opening of a new processing plant in Berea, Ohio, will dramatically expand production capacity for Arnco, the world's largest supplier of polyurethane flatproofing products, helping the company meet the growing demand worldwide for products that eliminate flats and reduce costly downtime for equipment operators. The 112,000-square-foot facility, which is set on 14 acres, will feature state-of-the-art design and production technology and have 16 times the capacity of the company's current plant in Cleveland, which is being closed.
The 40-year-old building — purchased from Self Service Mini Storage • was originally used for chemical blending by U.V. Coatings. It has tank off-loading capabilities, several loading docks and a 33-foot-high ceiling with room for expansion. It also has a 13,000-square-foot explosion-proof area to protect against flammable solvent materials, seven labs, and spill containment throughout the facility.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Arnco President Larry Carapellotti said the new facility will dramatically increase production capacity for Arnco since the Cleveland plant being replaced by the Berea facility was less than 10,000 square feet compared to 112,000 square feet for the new plant. He also said Arnco's other U.S. manufacturing facility in South Gate, Calif., is only about 25,000 square feet in size, which demonstrates the important role the new Berea plant will play in preparing the company for future expansion.
The number of employees in the Cleveland plant is being doubled for now, to about a dozen, and is expected to increase over the next few years as production is expanded. The company expects to double production within the next five years.
