Belgium-based Socaplast BVBA plans to open a US headquarters and polyvinyl butyral recycling center in Springfield, Massachusetts, on the campus of a Solutia Inc. facility.
Socaplast will invest USD …
Belgium-based Socaplast BVBA plans to open a US headquarters and polyvinyl butyral recycling center in Springfield, Massachusetts, on the campus of a Solutia Inc. facility. Socaplast will invest USD 3.4 million and create about 15 jobs, according to a 27 February 2008 news release from the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts in Springfield. The recycler has been operating for more than 30 years, and for the past 10 years has been using a unique process to recycle PVB foil and trimmings from lamination. Socaplast is a European supplier for St. Louis-based Solutia, which makes Saflex, an interlayer of plasticized PVB used in laminated glass for automotive applications. Solutia spokeswoman Melissa Hammonds said Socaplast has signed a letter of intent to take over some warehouse space in Springfield. Solutia“s Ghent, Belgium, Saflex site has previously worked with Socaplast, she said. The Belgian recycler plans to occupy 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meters) of space by mid-May, according to Allan Blair, EDC“s president and chief executive officer. “We“ve been working with [Socaplast] about six months. They came to the area asking about various sites and they wanted a lot of information about doing business in the U.S.”, Mr. Blair said 29 February 2008 by telephone. The recycler looked at various sites in western Massachusetts and Connecticut before choosing Springfield, he said. Closeness to Solutia was a key factor Socaplast will recycle PVB trim and supply pellets to Solutia facilities in Springfield, as well as Michigan and Mexico. Ann Burke, vice president of EDC, said another reason for choosing Springfield is the new flight from nearby Bradley International Airport to Amsterdam, Netherlands. That flight started in July 2007, she added. Solutia also has a regional headquarters in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
