MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — June 30, 2014 — MonoSol LLC, A Kuraray Company, the world leader in water-soluble delivery systems, has broken ground for their new high-tech production facility, Duneland Site, in Portage’s Ameriplex at the Port. Mayor James E. Snyder was joined by MonoSol CEO and Division head/Kuraray WS Film Division, P. Scott Bening and Keiji Murakami, Director/Primary Executive of the Vinyl Acetate Company of Kuraray along with several other MonoSol staff members and dignitaries from the City of Portage and the State of Indiana for the brief ground breaking ceremony.
This new production facility will feed the growing global demand for all water-soluble film products, as MonoSol takes a large integration step as the core of the Kuraray WS Film Division. It will be constructed in three phases with the first phase scheduled to be operational in late 2016, generating an approximate 15 percent capacity increase over MonoSol’s current global production levels. The final phase will be complete by the end of 2020. When fully operational, the plant will create at least 150 new jobs. Hiring will commence mid-2015 for the 2016 opening. The Ross Group has been retained as the general contractor for the project.
“As a member of the global Kuraray team, we examined locations on multiple continents for this expansion,” said P. Scott Bening, CEO of MonoSol. “Portage, Indiana was chosen over several European locations and other North American locations in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Our roots, natural resource availability, workforce confidence, relationships with service providers and the support from the State of Indiana and City of Portage tipped the scales. Mayor James Snyder and his team did a great job coordinating the necessary supporters. The State stepped up and assisted with a competitive incentive package as well. We are blessed with a great team of people who started in Portage in 1953, expanded to LaPorte, Indiana and to Europe and now find cause to build even more back in Portage,” said Mr. Bening. “This region is full of ‘can do’ individuals and we are proud to be a part of the community.”
“Portage cannot express the extent of its gratitude and honor at being chosen by MonoSol as its new growth location,” stated Portage Mayor James E. Snyder. “We truly believe this company represents the very essence of what Portage strives to bring its residents in terms of new job opportunities. Portage has the best team with Economic Development Director Fitzer and Redevelopment Commission Director John Shepherd, who worked hard to earn this opportunity for the ever-promising future of Portage.”
Further, Mayor Snyder said, “CEO Scott Bening and the MonoSol team are committed to participating in our youth training program in Portage schools and this project will be instrumental in helping them find quality employees and our students finding quality jobs that will keep some of our finest in Portage.”
“MonoSol’s humble beginnings started in Portage and we have insured that Portage will be instrumental in their incredible future. This is truly one of Portage’s finest achievements on many levels,” said Snyder.
Posted July 1, 2014
Source: Monosol
