Lehigh Technologies Considering New Facility Sites

Lehigh Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of rubber powder made from scrap tires, is considering four different locations for two new plants that it intends to build.

According to the Naples, Fla.–based company, the new plant sites are part of Lehigh’s effort to triple production capacity of its ultra-fine rubber powder. The company is moving aggressively in the final selection process and hopes to announce the location of its two new plant sites by early 2008.

Lehigh executives have narrowed down the location of the plants to sites in Alabama, California, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Each site will employ from 75 to 100 people in facilities that will be approximately 120,000 square feet in size. The company already has one plant in Tucker, Ga., and plans to break ground for its second plant in early 2008, with the third plant to follow shortly thereafter. Once completed, Lehigh will have the ability to produce more than 300 million pounds of its engineered rubber powder to manufacturers in the automotive, rubber, plastics and other polymer product consuming industries.

“We continue to see great demand for our ultra-fine rubber powder across the tire, plastics, carpet, coatings and other industrial manufacturing industries,” says Anthony Cialone, founder and chief operating officer of Lehigh. “The final four states are aggressive in helping to bring new economical and environmental products to market. Their commitment to clean technology and products that take on environmental sustainability is great, making them terrific candidates as we increase the volume of our rubber powder.”

The Staubach Company, a Texas-based real estate advisory firm, is leading the search for the sites of two new plants, according to a Lehigh Technologies news release.