USA – Austrian paper and carton-based packaging manufacturer Cardbox Packaging has opened its newly expanded manufacturing facility in Pittston, Luzerne County in Pennsylvania, US.
It just took four years to finally hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the grand opening of the Austrian-headquartered company’s first and only U.S. facility.
The opening ceremony was marked by an official ribbon-cutting presided by the DCED’s Office of International Business Development (OIBD) deputy secretary David Briel.
Briel said: “I would like to congratulate Cardbox on this expansion, and this really is a prime example of the positive ripple effects of DCED’s economic development investments in Pennsylvania.
“It has been great to watch these international companies come here to the Commonwealth and grow their North American operations from a Pennsylvania base.”
Expansion works involved the addition of an 11,000ft² area for warehousing to an existing 27,500ft² facility at the CenterPoint Commerce & Trade Park West Industrial Park in Pittston Township.
Cardbox commenced this expansion work in 2019, in collaboration with the DCED’s Governor’s Action Team (GAT) and OIBD.
The three entities decided to select Pennsylvania as their preferred location for establishing Cardbox’s manufacturing facility in the country.
Cardbox invested approximately US$5.3 million to complete this expansion project, with the affiliated works creating 35 full-time jobs.
The packaging company also received a funding proposal from DCED for a US$75,000 Pennsylvania First grant along with US$70,000 as a job creation tax credit that was pledged to be distributed after creating new jobs.
The company further received a US$15,300 workforce development grant to provide relevant training support for its workers.
Cardbox is the second Austrian company that has received GAT’s support to expand its operations in Pittston Township.
Prior to this, the OIBD and GAT worked with Cardbox’s strategic partner Greiner Packaging in 2014 to establish its headquarters in Pittston.
Cardbox managing director Klaus Hockl added: “Setting a plant in Pittston was a strategic step forward for the whole Cardbox Packaging group. We are thrilled that this expansion will help facilitate our future growth.”
Last year, the Austrian company invested over US$13.89 million (€14 million) to expand and modernize its Wolfsberg site.
With new technological investments and a high degree of automation, the company said it was well-prepared for future growth.
For all the latest packaging and printing industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
