Ricoh to expand US thermal media production

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Ricoh, a North America-based producer of thermal papers and labels, will break ground on a 35,500 square foot expansion to its thermal media coating facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on November 2, 2011.

The plant expansion will take place on Ricoh Electronics, Inc’s 69.5 acre site in Gwinnett County where the company has been slitting thermal paper since the plant’s opening in 1990 and coating thermal paper since 1996. The expanded facility, which will be completed in July 2012, will house a new, state-of-the-art thermal media coater that will apply multiple layers of coatings to rolls of base paper which are then converted into tags and labels used in a variety of industries such as supermarkets, transportation, retail, industrial, and medical. 

The new coater will be installed in January 2013 and begin production in May 2013.  The completion of this facility will make this Ricoh’s second direct thermal paper coating facility in the United States and Ricoh’s sixth facility around the world. Ricoh expects to hire approximately 70 local employees in operations, maintenance, and quality control positions.

‘This expansion of our thermal media operations enhances our capability to meet our customers’ increasing demands and expectations for high-quality products and affirms our commitment to investing for the future. We look for this facility to play a key role in meeting the needs of the North American market and expanding into new markets,’ explained Jeff Briwick, president of Ricoh Electronics. 

‘We are extremely grateful for the tremendous support provided by the city, county, and state agencies that have helped make this expansion possible,’ added Frantz Pierre vice president and group manager, Georgia Operations Group.

Joining president Briwick for the November 2 ceremony will be Gretchen Corbin, deputy commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development; Charlotte Nash, chairman, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners; Nick Masino, vice president of Economic development and partnership Gwinnett; Lawrenceville mayor Judy Jordan Johnson; Jackie Rohosky, assistant commissioner, Georgia Quick Start; and Shinya Urano, president, Kajima Building & Design Group.  

Ricoh Electronics is one of 234 domestic and overseas subsidiaries and affiliates which comprise Ricoh Company, a $23 billion global corporation. 

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