U.S. Plastic & Rubber Products Manufacturing Sector Leads to $21 Billion in Spending

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Written by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

The Industrial Manufacturing Industry's plastic & rubber products sector shows a strong presence in the U.S., boasting $21 billion in active projects, $10 billion of which are presently under construction.

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Automotive-Related Products are a Main Driver

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are $21 billion worth of active and planned projects in the U.S. plastic & rubber products sector, $10 billion of which are under construction. While IIR considers the sector as part of the Industrial Manufacturing Industry, the products made at these plants cover a range of sectors, including automotive, construction and more.

Some of the high-dollar auto-related investments are attributed to the production of battery separators for lithium-ion batteries--which prevent direct contact between a battery's anode and cathode, while allowing free passage of lithium ions through a porous membrane. They are generally made from substances including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, polypropylene and others.

Industrial Info Resources is tracking the ongoing construction of ENTEK's $1.5 billion grassroot battery-separators plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, where production could begin later this year; a planned equipment addition involves installing six to eight additional production lines to meet demand for EVs as well as grid energy storage systems. Subscribers to the Industrial Info Resources Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can learn more by viewing the project reports.

Project activity also is centered around manufacturing a more traditional automotive-related product: tires.

Construction of Bridgestone Corporation's $550 million expansion of its plant in Morrison, Tennessee, is underway, with a 850,000-square-foot addition designed to support further production of radial and bus tires the plant produces. Those tires will be equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that enable more efficient asset management and optimization of fleets' investments in tires, including retreading. Bridgestone also will invest in "AI [artificial intelligence] control technology that increases productivity and the application of knowledge and data in a digital manufacturing environment." Click here for the project report.

One project that could begin later this year is Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's $320 million modernization of its Lawton Tires plant in Oklahoma, the company's largest. The work is designed to increase the plant's annual production capacity by about 30% (10 million units--amounting to nearly 120,000 tires per day. Click here to view detailed project information.

Other Products

Projects geared toward manufacturing construction components include Troy Acoustics' grassroot manufacturing plant in Thomasville, Georgia for the production of sound wall system components used in highway noise barriers, film production and animal shelters, among other end uses. The project is set to kick off this year and wrap up by the end of 2027.

Plastic containers support a wide variety of both consumer and industrial goods. Among the projects set to begin construction this year is Schutz Container System's expansion of its plastic drum/container manufacturing plant in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The project entails adding a new production line specifically for industrial packaging. The company's packaging systems are used across the globe to transport and store chemicals, hazardous goods and foods, among other products.

View the two project reports here.

Subscribers to the Industrial Info Resources Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can view a full list of active and proposed projects in the U.S. plastic & rubber products sector.

Key Takeaways

• According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are $20 billion worth of active projects in the U.S. plastic & rubber products sector, half of which are under construction.
• Automotive-related projects are one of the main drivers of investment.
• Nearly all of the activity is attributed to grassroot and expansion projects.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).