Area Development
Plastics Color Corporation, a supplier of color concentrates, compounds, custom-functional masterbatches and other polymer technologies, plans to significantly expand production capacity at its Calumet City, Illinois, manufacturing facility, adding 40,000 square feet 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 percent more capacity in Illinois and employ seven to ten personnel. "We will break ground on the project as soon as weather permits," said Woldt, "and expect to be operational by late 2014."

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 fiber 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 color, color concentrate and specialty 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 color 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."