NEWMARKET, Ontario (Dec. 22)—AirBoss of America Corp. said it will open its first mixing plant in the U.S. in January.
The company´s Waynesville, N.C., rubber compounding operation will have an initial annual capacity of about 20 million pounds. Airboss said the facility is aimed at supplying high-performance compound to important major customers based in the U.S. The new site will free up much needed capacity at the company´s primary plant in Kitchener, Ontario, and its Acton Vale, Quebec, facility, the firm said.
"I am pleased that our board has approved this first step of our program to establish a major manufacturing presence in the U.S.," said Kim Aagaard, AirBoss chief operating officer. "While we have enjoyed a strong market position for a number of years, it was time to make a strategic commitment. Our capacity will now exceed 220 million pounds and further U.S. expansion is planned for 2005. We will continue to invest in order to support our customers´ growth with unrivalled value."