On September 28th, 2022, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) approved a grant in the amount of $100,000 to ORBIS to expand its Urbana, Ohio manufacturing facility. ORBIS plans to invest more than $42 million into the Urbana location, including $356,554 to expand the on-site rail infrastructure. ORBIS is located on the West Central Ohio Port Authority (WESTCO)-owned section of the Indiana & Ohio Railway (IORY) system.
ORBIS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, is a packaging systems manufacturer and consultant. ORBIS specializes in offering the services, technology, expertise, processes, and infrastructure to create and then manage a sustainable reusable packaging program. ORBIS also manufactures numerous reusable products, such as plastic pallets, containers, totes, and cases. The facility in Urbana is one of their manufacturing facilities.
The proposed expansion at ORBIS’ Urbana facility involves approximately 50,000 s.f. expansion to accommodate eight large injection machines to increase their manufacturing capacity. The facility is currently served by rail via the IORY, but for this additional manufacturing capacity, an on-site siding that has not seen rail service for many years must be rehabilitated. ORBIS will commit to creating 46 new and retaining 324 existing jobs at the Urbana location.
Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director of the ORDC, said, “It is always our goal to work with our local and state economic development partners to promote investment and employment opportunities in Ohio. We are happy to partner with WESTCO and the Dayton Development Coalition to assist ORBIS with its expansion plans. The rehabilitation of a siding that has been out of service for so many years increases capacity for ORBIS and improves the logistics of the facility.”
ORDC assists Ohio companies and communities in creating and retaining jobs by preserving rail service to existing shippers and providing rail service to new customers. In addition, the ORDC funds project to improve railroad-highway grade crossings to increase safety for the traveling public. Please remember, when around railroad tracks always expect a train. Rail lines in Ohio are private property and trespassing is both strictly prohibited and extremely dangerous.
For additional information regarding this project or for additional information on ORDC, please contact Wende Jourdan at (614) 728-9497.
