Opening ceremony highlights the Division’s two decades of success and bright future.
North Kingstown, Rhode Island—(June 20, 2018) Toray Plastics (America), Inc.,has completed a two-year, $40 million expansion at its PEF Divisionin Front Royal, Virginia. The company officially launched a new extrusion line, a new irradiation unit, and a new salt bath unit with a ribbon cutting on May 22. Toray’s PEF Division is North America’s and Europe’s premier automotive supplier of blended polypropylene-polyethylene foam that offers consistent thickness and density. The state-of-the-art equipment is housed in two new buildings that cover 74,000 square feet. The new extrusion line provides the company with manufacturing flexibility and the irradiation unit has doubled irradiation capacity. The new salt bath unit, the company’s third, has increased capacity by 170 percent. This will enable PEF to meet the growing demands of the markets it currently serves and to export Toraypef®and ToraSoft®products to China as well. The investment will also allow the Division to supply unique products to industrial markets.PEF’s third generation of ToraSofthas been under development for the past year and is targeted for commercialization now that the expansion is complete. Toray anticipates that the expansion will create 30 new jobs.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Angela Navarro, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mr. Shinsuke Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, Mr. Junichiro Kuroda, Minister of Economy, Trade, Industry, and Energy at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Akihiro Nikkaku, President and CEO of Toray Industries, Hidetaka Hoketsu, General Manager of the PEF Division, Mike Brandmeier, President and CEO of Toray Plastics (America), Inc., and other dignitaries, state and local officials, and PEF employees.
Deputy Secretary Navarro said, “This is a significant investment and a significant victory for the Commonwealth of Virginia, as Toray is one of the Northern Shenandoah Valley’s largest employers and a valuable corporate partner to the region and the state.” She added, “This administration is committed to supporting Toray’s continued success in Front Royal.” After speaking, Navarro presented Mike Brandmeier with a flag that had been flown over the state capitol.
Mr. Nikkaku noted that the expansion is the largest in PEF’s history. He said that he hopes Toray’s presence in Virginia will continue to benefit the state’s economy and Japan’s relationship with the United States.
Hoketsu commented that the PEF Division has accomplished a great deal over the past 20 years and that its future looks very bright. He expressed gratitude for the support of the state of Virginia, Warren County, and the town of Front Royal. He also acknowledged the project contractors, all of whom completed the work safely and on time. Hoketsu concluded by thanking the Division’s customers for their collaboration on growing the market and confirming Toray’s commitment to long-term growth.
Brandmeier said that the expansion marks another major milestone in Toray’s history. “More than 20 years ago Toray Industries had a vision of growing business in the automotive and industrial markets in the United States. Toray Plastics (America) was entrusted with the task of turning that goal into a reality. I’m extremely proud of the Toray team and grateful to state and local officials. We look forward to the next 20 years with great eagerness and excitement.”
The PEF Division was founded in 1996 to produce polyolefin irradiation cross-linked foam, Toraypef®foam, and ToraSoft®foam for the automotive interior trim and industrial markets.
For more information about the PEF Division and its complete line of foams, contact Mary Osso at mary.osso@toraytpa.comor 401-667-2281.
Toray Plastics (America), Inc., is a leading manufacturer of polyester, polypropylene, bio-based, and metallized films for flexible and rigid packaging, lidding, graphic, industrial, optical, and electronic applications and conducts all its manufacturing and metallizing at one location. Toray is also a leader in the manufacture of polyolefin, polypropylene, and polyethylene foams for the automotive and flooring industries.The company is a subsidiary of Toray Industries, Inc., the world leader in synthetic fibers and textiles, carbon fibers, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and high-performance films, which has annual sales exceeding US$19 billion. For more information about Toray Plastics (America)’s complete line of films and foams, contact Mary Osso at mary.osso@toraytpa.comor 401-667-2281. Toray Plastics (America), Inc., headquarters is located at 50 Belver Avenue, North Kingstown, RI 02852-7500; telephone 401-294-4511, fax 401-294-3410. Visit the Toray Plastics (America), Inc., website at www.toraytpa.com.
Caption: Mike Brandmeier, President and CEO, Toray Plastics (America), Inc., accepts a Virginia state flag from Angela Navarro, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade of the Commonwealth of Virginia, during a May 22 ribbon cutting at Toray’s PEF Division in Front Royal.