INX International Ink Co. recently doubled the size of its manufacturing facility in Edwardsville, Kansas. Completed in April, the now 75,000-sq-ft building improves the company’s ability to support continued growth for its energy curable inks and coatings products.
The original complex opened in 1992 when it combined resources from the Acme and Midland offset ink facilities. Edwardsville assumed additional product offerings when the Kansas City plant closed in 2005, thus absorbing the UV flexo, UV coatings and water-based blended lines.
John Hrdlick, Chief Operating Officer, said the $5.2 million cost of the expansion will be offset by the company’s ability to support continued sales growth of its energy curable products, including UV, EB, LED and HUV inks and coatings. “Production volume at Edwardsville has risen dramatically over the years. In 2005, it was 3.5 million pounds and had grown to in excess of 8.5 million pounds prior to completion of the expansion. We expect to see the same growth trend going forward as our energy curable sales continue to be fast growing.”
With the expected sales growth and a diverse product line, Hrdlick says it is likely INX will be increasing staff in Edwardsville.
“We currently have 120 employees at that facility. Based on growth, it may increase as much as 10 percent or more in the next year,” he said. “The expansion improves our ability to provide regional distribution of our products, and it will enhance Edwardsville’s ability to provide back-up manufacturing for other INX facilities. In addition to this activity, we are also planning to utilize our West Chicago, Illinois, and Dunkirk, New York, offset facilities to further support and enhance the supply of energy curable products to our customers.”
