Polish company plans zipper bag manufacturing plant in Marion

A Polish company that supplies large press-to-close zipper bags used by food, pet food, lawn care, pharmaceutical and other businesses will be the initial tenant of the 181-acre Marion Enterprise Center.

ElPlast of Zory, Poland, is expected to start construction of a 36,000-square-foot building this fall, according to George Lake, president of the Marion Ec0nomic Development Co. (MEDCO). The facility, which will begin operating in 2014, will employ 36 in the initial phase of production, growing to 69 over a second phase.

Lake said ElPlast serves over 700 customers in 70 different countries. He said the company's product is familiar to many Eastern Iowa consumers.

"If you purchase a 40-pound bag of dog food, you have probably seen and used this type of zipper closure," Lake said. "It's designed for any large food-grade package that you would be using repeatedly."

Chad Rupert, president of ELPLAST America, said the company has had an active presence in North America for nearly two years.

"Business has quickly grown to the point that we need to establish an American facility to ensure we can continue to support our aggressive growth plans and provide the high level of service our existing customers have come to expect," Rupert said.

Lake said the timing of ElPlast's decision could not have been better for the new development on the eastern edge of Marion,  which was established to provide the shovel ready ground needed for industrial growth.

"The Marion Enterprise Center will be directly connected to Highway 151 by October," he said. "Street lights will be installed in July and we will be able to officially open the MEC for public access."

Lake noted that construction of the new Marion Police Department headquarters is progressing on schedule at the entrance to the Marion Enterprise Center.

"We are visiting with other companies about breaking ground yet this year," he said. "It's nice to get the first one in."