US-based colour concentrates, compounds and masterbatches supplier PCC (Plastics Color Corporation) is significantly expanding production capacity at its Calumet City, Illinois manufacturing facility. The expansion will add 40,000 sq ft to the building and a minimum of one multi-function production line. According to PCC’s Corporate Operations Manager Wes Woldt, the new line will give PCC 40% more capacity in Illinois and employ up to 10 personnel including an Operations Manager, a senior leadership position which the company plans to hire in the coming weeks. “We will break ground on the project as soon as weather permits,” said Woldt, “and expect to be operational by late 2014.” According to Woldt, this is the first building expansion of the Calumet City plant since 1981.

The Illinois management is preparing an RFQ for new extrusion equipment and plans to select suppliers in late February. PCC President Doug Borgsdorf said, “We are looking for suppliers that will provide the same level of service and technology we provide to our customer base.”

“We’ve been running three shifts at Cal City since March,” said Borgsdorf. “Due to a rapid expansion in our black production business, we’ve recently gone to a seven-day a week schedule to meet customer demand, increasing our capacity by 18 percent this December.” Much of PCC’s black business is coming from packaging, pipe and fibre sales, says Borgsdorf. “This expansion is part of a corporate strategy to grow our black capacity in Illinois while our facilities in North Carolina, California and China focus on liquid colour, colour concentrate and speciality solutions such as our new antimicrobials, flame retardants and anti-counterfeiting products.”

PCC recently added two new extruders at its Asheboro facility and is stepping up production in China and California as well. Additionally, new liquid colour production equipment has been ordered for the Asheboro facility, providing a wider range of product offerings for that plant. “Our business is growing in every area as we continually find ways to solve our customers’ challenges,” said Borgsdorf. “We are also exploring several opportunities in Latin America, with a partnership or acquisition in Brazil at the top of our list.”