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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Spartech Transforms Paulding, Ohio, Plant to Provide Plexiglass Protection Against COVID19

06/02/2020
A leading St. Louis, Missouri-based plastics manufacturer of engineered thermoplastic materials and specialty packaging products, Spartech powered up plexiglass production at its plant in Paulding, Ohio, as demand for clear protective barriers skyrockets during the coronavirus pandemic.

Located in Northwest Ohio, Spartech’s Paulding plant normally produces various thermoplastic polymer and high impact polystyrene materials, not clear acrylic (plexiglass). But, according to company officials, in the “new normal” the Paulding team nimbly shifted to producing plexiglass, which is used for sneeze guards and other clear protective barriers at grocery stores, retail outlets, schools and municipalities.

The plant has already converted two production lines for plexiglass and are in the process of converting at least one more line. In the meantime, business continues to accelerate. In fact, just since this program started two weeks ago, the plant has produced enough material to equip over 4,000 grocery store cashier lines.

“To meet the increased demand for clear barrier materials in combating the Coronavirus, we were able to quickly adapt our processes to start producing plexiglass,” said Gary Buckland, Senior Plant Manager for Spartech’s Paulding plant. “As a result, we are looking at hiring over 20 new employees.”

“If I told our team earlier this spring that we would be making clear plastics, they would have said it cannot happen,” Buckland said. “But it is happening, and everyone is doing a great job stepping up to meet this demand. To survive and thrive in a crisis, sometimes you have to think outside the box. We have adapted to this new business environment and our ability to adapt, stay flexible and be creative has generated more job opportunities for our community.”

Spartech, which was designated as an essential business, conducts daily healthcare screenings for employees upon entering all of its plants. All employees have their temperatures taken before entering a facility, maintains an emphasis on social distancing, and must wear face masks. In addition, the plant has a rigorous disinfection program throughout the building.

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