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Plastpro Opens Plant in Ashtabula
ASHTABULA, Ohio -- Plastpro Inc., a supplier of exterior door products in the United States headquartered in Livingston, N.J., recently opened what officials call the most advanced and first fully automated fiberglass door manufacturing facility in the world here. The 250,000 square foot production facility will produce one million finished doors per year, create over 100 new jobs directly, and bring economic benefits to suppliers and communities in northeastern Ohio valued at about $100 million over the next three years. "This is a major step in Plastpro's 10-year journey to become the leading provider of exterior fiberglass doors," commented Shirley Wang, president of Plastpro. "This new plant will dramatically enhance our ability to quickly respond to customer needs and marketplace demands."Plastpro's current customers include some of the nation's largest building companies such as American Building Supply and Stock Building Supply, as well as leading retailers, Wang added.The new facility features integrated factory control technology that automates repetitive tasks to enable greater quality control, product consistency and manufacturing precision, Wang said. This will allow the Ashtabula plant to reduce delivery lead times by up to 75% and realize 200% to 300% greater productivity than traditional door manufacturing operations. Additionally, the manufacturing methods being introduced will enhance employee safety through improved ergonomics. "We're taking a proven product and assembling it in a unique and interesting way with the aid of an unprecedented level of automation," said Wang. "Fiberglass door skins can be cut, weighed and prepared for assembly using robotics. The system is able to pick, place, and assemble the various parts and components, resulting in minimal waste of material."As the cradle of the fiberglass industry, Ohio offers one of the most highly skilled and experienced work forces in the nation with specific expertise in fiberglass molding and assembly technologies, according to Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. "We're working hard to improve Ohio's business climate through our tax reform plan so that Plastpro and all our manufacturers will continue to succeed in today's competitive business climate," he said.Ashtabula County Commissioner Robert Boggs noted that Ohio would benefit from Plastpro's presence in both the short and long term. "The positive economic impact from the new jobs that Plastpro will create -- as well as from its work with the area's various suppliers and vendors -- will be significant," he said. "Our new facility in Ashtabula will play a significant role in supporting our history of making durable and value-added products," said Walter Wang, chief executive officer of Plastpro. "It also demonstrates that with the right investment, the right strategy and plan, and the right people, you can successfully manufacture products in the United States and be competitive with anybody in the world." Visit Plastpro Inc.: www.plastproinc.com"