New Pulaski County Manufacturer Ready to Ramp Up Production after Months of Delays

After months of delays, a Pulaski County plastics manufacturer finally appears to be ready to ramp up production. Over a year ago, IBC Thermoplastics got tax abatements and a $200,000 loan from the county to start making jerrycans at a facility southwest of Winamac.

Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer recently told the county commissioners that the facility’s electrical challenges have now been taken care of. “We had thought that either he was going to have to replace a whole lot of converters or the town was going to have to figure out how to run three-phase to the property,” Origer explained, “and as of right now, he’s running without too much extra investment there.”

Origer added that someone who has experience running that particular type of equipment has helped the owner figure out the best settings to use. “Now he has been pumping out good workable prototypes,” Origer said. “He’s got them at a lab in the Chicago suburbs for testing. If he passes the testing, he gets certifications that will make his product a lot more attractive to potential big contracts.”

Origer told the commissioners that the company has finally reached the point of being able to post job openings. He said he’s still working with them on making the loan payments, but the company is starting to bring in some money.