Expansion on tap at Cumberland, Madras Packaging

Cumberland Plastic Systems Inc. (Auburn, AL), a custom injection molder serving the automotive industry in the southern U.S., announced the expansion of its existing facilities and the addition of new jobs. Cumberland will invest approximately $2 million to add more molding production and the company plans to hire at least 51 new employees over the next two years as it anticipates additional orders from the Kia Manufacturing plant in nearby West Point, GA, expected to become operational later this year.  Cumberland also operates a 24,000 ft² facility in Franklin, KY.

Plastic bottle processor Madras Packaging, meanwhile, which blowmolds for industrial, dairy, juice, and personal care markets, will invest $5.8 million in an expansion of its production facility in Argos, IN. Madras, which currently operates from a 130,000 ft² facility, will construct a 40,000 ft² addition adjacent to its production plant to use as warehouse space.

The Argos plant operates three continuous extrusion shuttle machines and nine reciprocating screw blowmolding lines. Madras also operates a 180,000 ft² processing facility in Atlanta, GA.

Construction on the new warehouse will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the fall, when new hiring will begin. The state government of Indiana has offered Madras Packaging up to $165,000 in performance-based tax credits and $39,000 in training grants, contingent on job creation. —[email protected]