Huhtamaki North America, De Soto, Kan., announced plans to open a new manufacturing and distribution center in Goodyear, Ariz., to serve west coast foodservice packaging and retail tableware markets. When completed, the 750,000-square-foot facility will produce paper drink cups, insulated hot cups, food containers, pressed paperboard plates and thermoformed plastic cups and lids.

The $100 million project is expected to create approximately 300 jobs, and will cover building modifications, infrastructure and equipment installation. And, the Goodyear facility will plan 1-day delivery of major markets in southern California.

"This is a further investment in our strategy to serve the foodservice packaging and retail tableware markets with core products," says Clay Dunn, executive vice president. "The new facility will expand our footprint and will build off the success of our earlier expansions. The facility will not only grow our capacity, but [also] improve our distribution capability in the region."

Huhtamaki will start using the facility as a distribution center in early 2017. Construction of infrastructure is expected to begin in Q2 2017. Commercial production is scheduled to begin in late 2017 and ramp up in 2018-2019.

"This open format space will provide the capability to build another world-class asset," adds Fred Betzen, vice president of operations. "This facility gives us the ability to continue on our path of building 21st century work environments that are good for our customers, employees and communities. We are very excited for this expansion and looking forward to the growth it will create for our company."