Plastics employment has been steadily increasing in North Alabama as plastics converters recognize the many benefits of the region. The proximity of North Alabama in the Southeast places you in the heart of one of the fastest growing consumer markets as well as the center of the new automotive manufacturing of the U.S.
North Alabama’s regional strengths include a strong network of support industries, reliable low-cost electricity from TVA and an excellent transportation network that includes 3 interstate highways, 2 mainline railroads, numerous interstate-quality, 4-lane divided highways and an inland multi-modal port at the Huntsville International Airport.
North Alabama’s 10 largest plastics employers are as follows:
| Employees |
Company |
Location |
| 700 |
3M Company |
Decatur |
| 500 |
Rehau |
Cullman |
| 420 |
Atrion Medical Products |
Arab |
| 250 |
Kohler |
Huntsville |
| 200 |
Robbins LLC |
Tuscumbia |
| 150 |
ES Robbins |
Muscle Shoals |
| 150 |
Plasticraft |
Albertville |
| 135 |
Rainsville Technology Co. |
Rainsville |
| 127 |
Colormasters LLC |
Albertville |
| 100 |
Polymer Industries |
Henager |
Recent plastics announcements include:
- North American Lighting, a Japanese-based automotive supplier announced a $22 million investment in Muscle Shoals to manufacture automotive signal lighting. The project announced in late-2005 is expected to employ 320 associates.
- Rehau announced a $20 million expansion in January 2006, that will create up to 100 jobs. A 200,000 sq. ft. facility will be constructed next to the existing plant located in Cullman. Rehau produces plastic parts for the automotive industry.
- JET Polymer Recycling Inc. announced an investment of $1,105,000 in Rainsville in July 2006. They will produce polymer pellets from scrap plastics and will create 12 jobs.
- Quality Culvert purchased a 325,000 sq. ft. building in Athens in May 2006, to produce HDPE pipe and related construction materials. The $8.4 million investment will create 125 jobs.
- 3M Company is investing $120 million in Decatur to add 100,000 sq. ft. of space to increase production of the films they manufacture for use in devices with liquid crystal displays. An additional 50 jobs will be created.
- Kommerling, a German company with operations in Huntsville announced a 100,000 square foot expansion in August, 2006. At least 60 new jobs are expected to be created to increase the company’s production of foamed PVC sheets that are used in the graphics, sign and display industries.
|
Resources:
Links:
|
Barton Riverfront Industrial Park, 785 acres
