Hartmann US to open egg carton plant in Missouri

Hartmann US, a subsidiary of the Danish company Brødrene Hartmann A/S, has purchased 20,000 square feet in Joppa, Missouri, to expand on the 334,000-square-foot facility it purchased earlier this year. The company says it will be moving in equipment at the two facilities and plans to open its first egg carton plant in the United States by the first quarter of next year.

The $30 million project will use 30,000 tons of postconsumer fiber, primarily in the form of old newspapers (ONP), per year to produce egg cartons. The products will be marketed in the western half of the United States.

The company says it will purchase fiber to supply the plant from throughout the Midwest. The recycling company Midland-Davis Corp., based in Moline, Illinois, will be a significant supplier to the plant.

During an official groundbreaking for the plant, held earlier this year, Ulrick Kolding-Hartvig, CEO of Brodrene Hartmann, said, “By increasing production capacity and presence in North America, we will gain access to a larger share of the market and have a solid foundation for expanding the business.”

During the same groundbreaking ceremony, Gerry Lavis, president of Hartmann North America, said, “I appreciate the state of Missouri, the Missouri Partnership and the Rolla Regional Economic Commission for their professionalism during the location strategy and final decision-making process. The central location with improved transportation access from the I-44 corridor and intermodal rail connections in St. Louis and Kansas City will allow us to quickly connect with our customers across the country.  Here, we have found an excellent regional manufacturing workforce and a competitive business climate overall, which factored into the final decision to locate to Rolla.”