International Manufacturing Plant to Be Built in Russia

Tensar International has signed an agreement to build a manufacturing plant in Russia. Tensar is the majority shareholder in this joint venture (JV), with remaining investment coming from Russian partners. Don Meltzer, CEO of Alpharetta based parent company, Tensar Corporation, and Bob Vevoda, chief operating officer and president of Tensar International, met with their Russian JV partners in London to finalize the funding and construction schedule.

“Our sales into Russia have expanded over recent years,” Vevoda said. “We are seeing growth in demand for our products in transportation projects, utilities and the energy sector. Forecasts indicate that strong infrastructure growth will continue for the next decade and beyond, making it clear to us that a plant in Russia was a necessity. On top of that, the establishment of the Customs Union scrapping interstate tariffs and the likely expansion of the Union beyond Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, further increased the attraction of a manufacturing facility located in the region.”

The construction techniques made possible by Tensar’s products have been well received by specifiers in Russia and Central Asia. The company has found that with such a massive infrastructure program ahead, clients are open to technology solutions that are proven to increase construction efficiency.

Located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, the new plant will be sited in the Peterhof area of Saint Petersburg. Due to its role in Russia’s engineering surge of the 1700s, Peterhof is regarded as a historically significant town and is a world heritage site.

Plans for the multi-million dollar project are well underway, with manufacturing equipment on order and a factory building obtained and currently undergoing a complete refurbishment. The plant is set for operation by January 2014.

The plant will produce Tensar’s TriAx geogrid range, used to stabilize road construction over soft soils and to optimize pavement design for roads, ports and airfields. It will also produce Tensar’s high strength range of geogrids, with major applications in reinforced soil structures including retaining walls and embankments.

Source: Tensar International