plastics

Shintech, the world’s top producer of polyvinyl chloride resins, will grow manufacturing and packaging facilities at its Iberville/West Baton Rouge complex.

Global specialty materials company Eastman will build one of the world’s largest plastic-to-plastic molecular recycling facilities in Kingsport, TN.

Staunton River Plastics will build a new 250,000-square-foot plant in Hurt, VA, creating more than 200 new jobs over four years.

The northeastern end of the volunteer state is home to a dynamic plastics and chemicals materials and manufacturing cluster.

The plastic bottle manufacturer will significantly expand its Garland, TX manufacturing operation later this year.

Nissei Plastics will boost its global production network with a new 115,000-square-foot facility in San Antonio, TX.

In two phases, the petrochemical company will build ethane crackers and downstream plants in St. James Parish that will create up to 1,200 new direct jobs.

The Canadian company will establish a nearly 160,000-square-foot operation in Sidney, NE where it will manufacture calf housing products. 

Dow and DuPont have apparently agreed that they would be in a stronger position as a merged company with powerful synergies to successfully navigate an eventual breakup into more specialized units. The tentative deal also may signify the next step in the evolution of the global plastics industry, a shift in focus to specialty and advanced engineered plastics from oil-based petrochemical mainstays like polyethylene. Both companies have realized the need to get bigger before they can get smaller.

Blow-molded plastic products manufacturer Lifetime Products, Inc. will invest $115 million in a new manufacturing and distribution operations in Knox County, creating 500 jobs.

China-based Innovate Manufacturing will locate its first U.S. headquarters in Knoxville, investing $4.7 million in building upgrades and renovations and creating 50 new jobs.