Rapid Granulator makes major investment

Rapid Granulator is making one of its biggest investments in decades to bring US production back under its full control. The company says this is a major move in its most important market. As announced, Rapid will begin in-house production of its full product range of equipment for granulating and shredding plastics in Pittsburgh, PA, early in the second quarter of this year. The Swedish company is investing in a 6000-m² (65,000 ft²) facility that will also include a 325-m² showroom, warehousing, and offices.

“This is an extremely important move for Rapid,” says Jim Hoffman, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, at Rapid Granulator. “In the near future, we will have full control over US production, just like we have in Sweden and just like we had here in the past. It is really important for us to have the responsibility for the quality and reliability of our equipment in our own hands.”

Rapid has been out-sourcing production in the US since 2008, and it has been successful in the North American market that it has embarked on this investment. Mr. Hoffman, who has been with Rapid Granulator for 26 years, says the company is returning to its roots, 40 years after it first set up operations in the USA. Up until 2008, Rapid’s own production was in Illinois. Rapid was acquired by Swedish company, Lifco, just over two years ago. US production has continued uninterrupted at the previous owner’s operations, but now Rapid is taking everything back in-house.  

The new facility, situated close to Pittsburgh airport, will have sufficient space to showcase all of Rapid’s wide range of equipment for granulation and shredding of plastics production waste and for recycling of post-consumer material. At this time, Rapid is not divulging output figures or employment numbers.

The US investment comes soon after Rapid added a major extension to test facilities at its headquarters in Bredaryd, Sweden. Both initiatives are the result of an important strategic investment made by Lifco.