$44M corrugating plant opened in Lewisburg

Pratt Industries’ new $44 million corrugating plant that officially opened Tuesday in Lewisburg represents “box-making for the future,” said Craig Beaudoin, the facility’s general manager.

The new 350,000-square-foot plant at 301 W. Clay St. will produce corrugated packaging sheets to be converted into boxes at Lewisburg Container, a Pratt-owned facility at 275 W. Clay St.

“This location was important because Lewisburg Container was already here, they are the largest sheet plant in North America. We are feeding them the sheets, and we also have a very large customer base already here in this part of Ohio,” Beaudoin said.

Georgia-based Pratt is the nation’s fifth largest corrugated packaging company, and the world’s largest privately held, 100 percent recycled paper and packaging firm, according to company materials.

The new plant currently employs more than 100 workers, and will have a workforce of 140 when it reaches capacity in about two years, Beaudoin said.

The facility will save the equivalent of up to 10,000 trees a day by using 100 percent recycled paper from Pratt’s mill system. The plant also uses compressed natural gas on its forklifts and clamp trucks, and has a “zero discharge” water system.

“This is probably one of the most environmentally friendly box-making facilities in the country,” Beaudoin said.

The project was approved in July 2013 for a 65 percent, 10-year state tax credit, an income tax abatement. The Warren County Port Authority also approved constructive incentives for the project.

Tuesday’s opening event was attended by Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, Pratt Industries Global Chairman Anthony Pratt and local officials.

Pratt employs more than 4,000 workers at over 60 facilities that also include a corrugating plant in Springfield and an office in Mason.

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