Page 34 - Plastics News March 2020

Business news

Orenco and FiberCore Holding Iriapak To Open $7 Million

sign agreement for the InfraCore Packaging Film Plant In New
Technology Orleans

iberCore/NL and Orenco Composites™/USA have talian company Iriapak has announced its plans make a
Fsigned an agreement to license the application of I$7 million capital investment to establish a packaging
the InfraCore® technology in the USA. This special film manufacturing facility in eastern New Orleans. As
collaboration provides wonderful opportunities for both estimated by Louisiana Economic Development (LED),
companies. Orenco will not only increase its market the upcoming facility is expected to create a total of
share in the USA, but with its enormous knowledge 53 jobs in the south-east region of Louisiana, 25 of
of the engineering and production of large composite
products will also grow the InfraCore technology itself.
"InfraCore Inside was developed in the Netherlands," says
Eric Ball, Senior Vice President of Orenco Composites.
"Now, we're combining this innovative technology with
our state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to create
uniquely robust composite structures. Bridges with
InfraCore Inside are distinguished by incredible adhesion
throughout their structure. They require only a minimal
foundation, and because they're relatively lightweight,
they're easy to install. These bridges are sustainable,
reliable, virtually maintenance-free, and designed to last which are direct jobs and 28 indirect jobs. Governor of
over 50 years." According to Simon de Jong, co-founder/ Louisiana John Bel Edwards said: “From Boeing’s work
CEO of FiberCore® (the developer of InfraCore Inside), on Nasa’s Space Launch System to the recent return
"The InfraCore technology has successfully solved one of Dixie Beer, New Orleans East has been trending as a
of the major challenges of the fiber reinforced polymer centre of advanced manufacturing. “We are happy to
(FRP) community: making delamination of FRP sandwich welcome another international investment to the region
structures, especially due to fatigue after impact, with the arrival of this Italian company. Our skilled
inconsequential by creating a continuous structural Louisiana workforce and the state’s strong support for
connection of glass fibers between the top and bottom manufacturing industries should make this an ideal
of the structure. The construction contains no internal location for Iriapak’s first production plant in North
glues or bolted connections." He continues, "The strength America.”Iriapak was founded in 1978 and manufactures
comes entirely from the fibers, which themselves are
packaging for paper towels and tissue products. The
project was secured following a competitive incentive
package offered by the state of Louisiana. The package
includes comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart,
and a performance-based grant of to $250,000 for site
infrastructure improvements. Iriapak executive Jeffrey
Crevoiserat said: “I worked in Louisiana for 15 years
after graduating from Tulane University, and I have
long had a desire to find my way back to Louisiana
and to contribute something to the state that was so
much stronger than steel. Besides bridges and lock gates,
our technology is used today in [sea] ship construction influential in my life. “Our location in New Orleans
and offshore wind energy projects. This year, we expect East offers incredible access to the entire East Coast
to start our first project in the aerospace industry. Our of the US logistically; an immense labour market; a
cooperation with Orenco shows yet another application regulatory infrastructure that wants to work with us
of our versatile technologies." and welcomes us; and exceptional port facilities for us
to import materials and export product.”

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