Virginia Economic
Development Partnership

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P.O. Box 798
Richmond, VA 23218-0798
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Plastics & Advanced Materials
Plastics & Advanced Materials Contact:
Laura Leigh Savage
Manager. Composites and Polymers. Business Development
804-545-5744
LLSavage@YesVirginia.org

Plastics & Advanced Materials in Virginia

Virginia's strategic mid-Atlantic location, superior transportation network and competitive operating costs combine to make an ideal location for Plastics & Advanced Materials companies. Virginia is home to over 200 plastics companies that employ more than 19,700 Virginians.

Since 2001, Plastics & Advanced Materials companies have invested $1.08 billion and created more than 5,220 new jobs in Virginia. Recent major announcements include:  DuPont, Essel Propack America LLC, O'Sullivan Films, Phoenix Packaging, Trinity Packaging and Universal Fiber Systems.

Virginia's Plastics & Advanced Materials Companies Include:

  • Plastics material and fiber manufacturers
  • Film/sheet manufacturers
  • Blow molders
  • Injection molders
  • Pipe/profile manufacturers
  • Thermoformers
  • Equipment manufacturers

 

Virginia's Plastics & Advanced Materials Industry

  • Direct economic output of $10.3 billion
  • Plastics Products is largest sector

Major Plastics & Advanced Materials Companies
Alloy Polymers
Amcor
Azdel Composites and Material Solutions
CP Films
DuPont
Honeywell
Intertape Polymer
Invista
Klockner Pentaplast
Polymer Group
Printpack
Rubbermaid Inc.
Strongwell
Tessy
Trinity Packaging
Universal Fibers
Xaloy


Virginia is a Leading Gateway to the World
  • Two of the nation's largest railroads, CSX Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation, have extensive infrastructure throughout the State

  • Fourteen railroads operate on more than 3,400 miles of railway in Virginia, of which more than 3,100 miles are Class I—one of the strongest rail networks in the nation

  • Six major interstate highways, I-95, I-85, I-81, I-64, I-77 and I-66, provide quick access to Northeast, Southeast and Midwest markets

  • 14 commercial airports serve the Commonwealth, including two of the nation's largest, Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National

  • The Port of Virginia offers world-class shipping facilities and a schedule of approximately 3,000 sailings annually to over 250 ports in 100 foreign countries.

Virginia's Central East Coast Location—Access to Markets

 

 

Virginia's Competitive Operation Costs

  • Average cost per unit of electricity for the industrial sector is 6.55 cents, compared to 6.71 cents for the nation.
  • Virginia manufacturers have one of the lowest average workers’ compensation costs in the country. At $2.09 per $100 of payroll in January 2009, it ranks 4th lowest nationally and is 44 percent lower than the U.S. average.
  • Unemployment tax burden that is 40 percent lower than the national average
  • 6 percent corporate income tax rate has not been increased since 1972
  • Right-to-work law allows individuals the right to work regardless of membership in a labor union or organization

South Atlantic Industrial Electric Rates: 2011

Source: Edison Electric Institute, Typical Bills and Average Rates Report, Winter 2011

 

Unemployment Insurance Tax Per Employee

 

 

Estimates of unemployment insurance tax per employee are a product of the average unemployment insurance tax as a percentage of taxable wages and the taxable wage base. Source: Average Employer Contribution Rates, By State, CY 2010, Employment and Training Administration, United States Department of Labor

Net Workers' Compensation

 

Net Workers' Compensation insurance cost for manufacturing industry (per $100 of payroll). States with no data provide workers' compensation insurance through a state fund. Source: Workers Compensation State Rankings Manufacturing Industry Rates and Statutory Benefit Provisions, 2009 Edition, Actuarial & Technical Solutions, Inc.

Higher Education and Training


Strong occupational and technical training programs designed to meet the needs of the Plastics & Advanced Materials industry are provided by Virginia's colleges and universities, Community College System, and communities.

  • Virginia Tech is home to the interdisciplinary Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, integrating macromolecular and interfacial sciences and engineering
  • The Virginia Community College System offers High Performance Manufacturing Technicians certifications
  • Danville Community College in Southern Virginia offers plastics processing technology certificates and its training center includes an injection molder, extruder, pultruder, and auxiliary equipment for hands-on training
  • Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Western Virginia offers an Advanced Manufacturing and Packaging Technology curriculum
  • The Center for High Performance Manufacturing (CHPM) at Virginia Tech works to help manufacturing firms stay competitive