AirBoss to expand compounding, product operations

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Newmarket, Ontario, Canada - AirBoss of America Corp. plans to spend almost $9 million to add one facility, improve efficiencies at other plants and expand its compounding capacity.

The company's board of directors approved capital expenditure projects totaling $8.8 million to cover the firm's growth plans, President and CEO Robert L. Hagerman said.

About $6.3 million has been earmarked for AirBoss' rubber compounding operation at its three mixing facilities in Kitchener, Ontario; Acton Vale, Quebec; and Scotland Neck, N.C.

The largest part of that investment will be made at the Scotland Neck factory, which will be refurbished, he said. Some of the improvements are expected to be in place in January, with the remainder likely to be completed by June.

Upgrading the two other sites should also be finished by June.

Changes are necessary, AirBoss said, to accommodate volume demands that could rise by over 20 percent in 2012, the firm said.

AirBoss also plans to spend about $2.6 million to build and furnish a new research and development center in Bromont, Quebec, for work on the next generation of protective products, Hagerman said. The facility will include a state-of-the-art clean room and laboratory.

The new centre is expected to be up and operating by June, he said.

From Rubber & Plastics News   (A Crain publication)