Lehigh Plans to Triple Production

Lehigh Technologies Inc. of Naples, Fla., a leading manufacturer of engineered rubber powder, has announced that it will triple production capacity of its ultra-fine rubber powder and is in the final phase of its search for two new plant sites.

Dennis Gormley, Lehigh Technologies CEO, says, "Industries are embracing our rubber powder technology, which can lessen our nation's dependence on oil, and they are turning to us for technology and products that take on environmental sustainability."

Lehigh is considering locations in Alabama, California, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee for the plants, which will be approximately 100,000 square feet. Each site will employ 75 to 100 workers.

Gormley says Lehigh plans to break ground in 2007 on the first of the two plants and in early 2008 for the other. Once completed, Lehigh will have the ability to deliver more than 300 million pounds of its engineered rubber powder to manufacturers in the automotive, rubber, plastics and other polymer products industries.

Lehigh currently has one production facility located in Tucker, Georgia. The facility generates no environmental waste of any kind and requires no air, water, pollution or other permits.

To help Lehigh meet the demand for its engineered rubber powder, Addison, Texas-based The Staubach Co., a real estate advisory firm founded by NFL quarterback Roger Staubach, will lead the site search and will help the selected communities realize the economic benefits of new industry, according to a press release from Lehigh.  

Keith Scott, Vice President of Staubach's Business and Economic Incentives Practice expanded on this enthusiasm by stating, "With Lehigh, we're going beyond the traditional economic benefits of job creation and capital investment to include world-wide environmental benefits. Lehigh is making a difference, with its rubber recycling process, working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as cutting the number of tires going to local landfills and burn facilities. Lehigh anticipates that its presence may encourage and attract other companies to set up camp nearby, helping to drive new green technology centers in the states currently under consideration."

More information on Lehigh Technologies is available at www.lehightechnologies.com.