WS Packaging Group to expand plant in Franklin, Pennsylvania

WS Packaging Group is expanding operations at its Franklin, Pennsylvania, facility (formerly known as SenecaSalem). The expansion includes moving production from WS Packaging’s Salem, Ohio, facility to a new 25,000 square foot expansion at the Franklin site.

The expanded operations will initially create 30 to 35 new jobs, which are projected to increase to over 50 within the next three to five years based on expected growth, reports the company. Construction of the new facility at Franklin is expected to be at full capacity by the end of August 2009.

The Franklin facility is an offset and flexographic printer of shrink sleeve, in-mold, roll-to-roll and cut and stack labels. It is also one of the largest printing and converting operations of plastic and film substrates, as well as metallized and holographic papers.

The new production plant in Franklin has a total capital investment estimated at USD $2.4 million for facilities and equipment. The investment includes a $1.2 million funding offer of state assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.

‘Unfortunately we ran out of room at the Salem site,’ said Scott Fisher, chief operating officer for WS Packaging. ‘Salem had only 20,000 square feet of production space and we literally used every inch of it. Because of that, we’ve not been able to fully optimize our operation there. Moving the Salem equipment to the larger facility at Franklin will enable us to add equipment that will upgrade production. One significant example of this is a considerable investment that has been made to address opportunities in the injected in-mold market. With this recent investment we will be able to bring a single source solution to customers for in-mold containers, both large and small.’

Currently in Franklin there is 54,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 112 employees. In addition to the new 25,000 square foot production facility to be built, the site has room for an additional 50,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Equipment from Salem will be moved in stages to ensure production deadlines remain intact.

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