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(Thursday,
December 10, 2009)
Franklin, Kentucky (from the Franklin Favorite).
Berry Plastics was named the 2009 Industry of the Year by the
Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority.
The Evansville-based company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of
plastic packaging products. It was formerly known as the Kendall
Polyken and Adhesives plants and Tyco Adhesives.
The scope of Berry Plastics’ plan includes initiatives to improve the
facility’s environmental footprint, to replace antiquated and energy
consuming equipment with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, to
enhance production to yield the most consistent products and to ensure
job retention at the plant.
The announcement was made last Thursday at the annual Industrial
Appreciation Banquet at Kentucky Downs.
Nearly 350 attended the event, just short of last year's record of
375.
Berry Plastics, which opened as the Kendall Co. in north Simpson
County in 1957, recently made a commitment to remain in Franklin by
investing $20 million in equipment and production upgrades earlier
this year.
The company received state tax incentives for the improvements, which
helped the Evansville-based company retain 500 jobs in Franklin.
"Our team has met those challenges with a lot of determination," Berry
Plastics Plant Manager John Baker said. "People who live and work in
Simpson County have refused to let failure be an option."
Baker said the local facility is one of the "most diverse and
complicated operations you'll see," producing products ranging from
pipeline tape to bandages to duct tape.
"This plant has been adaptable and resilient for 53 years," Baker
said.
Tom Salmon, the president of the Tapes and Coatings Division of Berry
Plastics, said manufacturing continues to provide good solid
middle-class jobs.
"Far too many are walking away from manufacturing saying we don't
compete ... We are here to stay, "Salmon said.
Salmon. said Berry Plastics last week acquired another company -
Pliant Corporation - which has a plant in Danville and now operates
four in Kentucky that collectively employ 1,200.
Pliant Corporation produces value-added film and flexible packaging
products for the personal care, medical, food, industrial and
agricultural markets. It has 16 manufacturing facilities around the
world, employs approximately 2,800 people and has nearly $1 billion in
annual sales.
Salmon said the latest acquisition marks Berry Plastics' 27th since
1988, and the growing company is looking at adding six more companies.
Berry Plastics, a manufacturer and marketer of plastic packaging
products, produces a wide range of products, including open-top and
closed-top packaging, polyethylene and PVC-based plastic films,
industrial tapes, medical specialties, packaging, heat-shrinkable
coatings and specialty laminates. The company has 80 manufacturing
facilities worldwide and over 16,000 employees.
The local operation, which has consistently been one of Simpson
County's largest employers for over 50 years, was acquired by Berry
Plastics in April 2007.
New and
expanding industries recognized at the industrial banquet were Keystop,
Integrated Pharmaceutical Package Co., Comfort Inn and Suites, CVS
Pharmacy, Turftime Equipment, Southwest Grill, Medical Center at
Franklin and Blu Pharmaceuticals.
Key Oil Co., a
division of Keystops LLC, was the 2005 Industry of the Year after
remaining in Franklin and building a 43,000-square-foot distribution
facility and corporate office in the north industrial park. A
distributor of oils and lubricants with over $320 million in annual
sales and 60 employees, Key Oil expanded again this year, adding
11,000 square feet to its facility and five workers for a truck repair
center. Key Oil was founded in 1961 by Lester Key of Franklin. Company
President Rex Hazelip accepted the award.
Integrated
Pharmaceutical Package Co. located in the former Tyco Electronics
Building on Robey Street earlier this year, using 70,000 square feet
of a building it shares with one of its main customers, Blu
Pharmaceuticals. The company, which has increased employment from 10
to 35 in a short time, receives prescriptions and over-the-counter
medications in bulk from manufacturers, and packages, labels and ships
them to customers. The award was accepted by Steve Richardson,
president and owner of Integrated Pharmaceutical Packaging.
Ravi Parekh,
who is building a new $4 million 60-room hotel at Exit Six in Franklin
near the Sanders East Industrial Park on Ky. 100 east accepted the
award on behalf of the Comfort Inn and Suites. Parekh also owns two
other Simpson County motels, Comfort Inn and Hampton Inn, on U.S. 31-W
at the Exit Two 1-65 interchange. The new motel will employ 15.
Another new
business that add to the local offerings, CVS Pharmacy, received
recognition. It is located at the intersection of South Main Street
(U.S. 31-W) and Ky. 1008. The new pharmacy and retailer represents a
$3.7million investment and employs 12. Local store manager Bill Rogers
received the award.
TurfTime
Equipment is owned by Tim and Pam Mayes, who accepted the award. The
6,000-square-foot manufacturing company, located on Bunch Road in
Franklin, makes lawn equipment for golf courses, ball parks and
recreational parks. Turf Time Equipment, which has five employees,
expects to build a new plant next year.
The second
Oasis Southwest Grill in Kentucky was built in Franklin just off Exit
Two. The 9,000-square-foot, 350-seat steak house was represented by
one of its owners, Joe McDaniel.
The Medical
Center at Franklin is completing a $3.4 million expansion this year
that will include a two-story addition on the south side of the
facility. The 17,000 square feet of additional space will connect to
the new 25- bed patient wing that was completed in 2007. It will house
three physician suites and other services, including a laboratory and
rehabilitation area. Hospital CEO Clara Sumner accepted the award.
Blu
Pharmaceuticals, which markets and distributes generic pharmaceuticals
to major wholesalers and government agencies, has announced plans to
add a laboratory at its Franklin facility, which is located in the old
Tyco Electronics Building on Ky. 1008. The new 7,000-square-foot
Emerald Laboratories will provide pharmaceutical research and
development for Blu Pharmaceuticals and other drug companies requiring
research and development-services. It will create 20 fulltime
high-tech and technical support jobs.
"Although this
has been a very tough year for all of us, we are pleased that these
companies have been able to locate or expand their current operations
and provide much-needed jobs for our area," presenter County
Judge/Executive Jim Henderson said. "We appreciate the commitment that
they have made to our community and county, and we look forward to
their continued growth and success in the coming years."
Those honored
for making contributions to the Industrial Authority, as well as the
community throughout the year, were Debbie Lyles, the human resources
supervisor at World-color and 2009 president of the local Society of
Human Resource Managers; Corky Peek, director of the Cabinet for
Economic Development for Existing Business Development who helped
secure state incentives for the Berry Plastics' expansion; and Medical
Center at Franklin CEO Clara Sumner for continual improvements to the
hospital after it was purchased from the county by Commonwealth Health
Corp. of Bowling Green in 2001. |
