Rapid Granulator Inc., Leetsdale, Pa., is set to begin in-house production of its size-reduction equipment in Pittsburgh. The company announced in early April its plans to resume producing its own equipment for granulating and shredding plastics.
"In the near future, we will have full control over U.S. production, just like we have in Sweden and just like we had here in the past," said Jim Hoffman, VP of sales and marketing. "It is really important for us to have the responsibility for the quality and reliability of our equipment in our own hands."
Rapid has been outsourcing its production in the States since 2008, Hoffman said. In 2016, Rapid experienced a record year not only in the States, but globally.
"The North American market right now is healthy and growing, but we want to grow even faster," he said. "It is clear that there is a spirit here to favor 'Made in America,' and we are going to do our best to give processors in the plastics industry more opportunity to do that. We are also very happy to bring new employment to the U.S.A. We will, of course, be sourcing key electrical components from leading U.S. suppliers."
The multimillion-dollar project includes investment in a 65,000-square-foot facility in Pittsburgh that includes a showroom, warehouse and offices.
