Expansion Management

It's Been 100 Years and They are Still Updating

Dec. 11, 2010

James Hardie Building Products, Inc. has been manufacturing building products for more than 100 years. And they are still improving their processes. In November the company received money from the stimulus package, Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), in order to update its fiber cement recycling operations at its trim manufacturing plant in Peru, Ill. The $756,000 investment will be used for new hi-tech equipment that will collect and reclaim off-specification HardieTrim XLD boards and fiber cement dust for use in their new line of crown mouldings. "It's a great example of how sustainability can be good for business," said Tom Jagiella, trim engineering manager at James Hardie. "Sometimes errors occur during the manufacturing process, which result in boards that don't measure up to James Hardie's quality standards. The standard practice within the industry is that off-spec boards are sent to a landfill. With this equipment we're able to convert them into high-quality marketable products." The project qualified for DCEO/ARRA funding in the category of "Recycled Content Products," which is considered part of "Green Industry." The Illinois State Energy Plan is providing more than $100 million in grants statewide, resulting in more than 12,000 green sector jobs being created over the next two years and leveraging almost $1 billion in investment.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

Follow Adrienne on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Call: 216-931-9235

Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.