Alberta, Canada based Eco-Flex has decided to launch a new facility in Texas. The US state has a waste tyre issue with 30 million of them are illegally dumped or ending up in landfills every year. Eco-Flex has announced that it will establish a significant manufacturing, distribution, and sales centre in Lampasas, Texas. The project will bring up to 200 jobs to the area while supporting the state’s progressive economic growth plans. The ground-breaking for the 25,000square-foot tyre recycling plant is scheduled for June 2.
ECO-FLEX to Break Ground on Texas Facility
Eco-Flex has earned a reputation as an innovator in the recycling of passenger car tyres and for manufacturing recycled rubber products. Each year, the business repurposes crumb rubber from approximately three million discarded tyres for use in new construction and remodelling, sidewalks, access ramps and more. Its customers range from municipalities to segments of the commercial, industrial, residential and agricultural industries. Three of the company’s main products include sound barrier protection walls, sidewalk blocks, and patio blocks. These products are one-of-a-kind and exclusive to Eco-Flex.
According to Heather Deal, a Vancouver, B.C. city councillor, the Eco-Flex products were an asset to the community she represents; “We have the greenest city initiative, and these sidewalks are made of recycled tyres which makes them a great alternative to concrete. We also have a lot of people of different abilities in this city, and we want to make sure our sidewalks are comfortable for pedestrians and people in wheelchairs…they are a very successful product for us.”
The Eco-Flex move was initiated by Texas resident, Mike Cour, president of US operations, who said Texas is the perfect place to showcase Eco-Flex’s one-of-a-kind product. He cited the state’s forward-thinking plans for an integrated transportation system and the more than 8,000 planned associated projects as a primary reason for the company’s decision. Likewise, the state is a hub for tyre recycling and ranks second in the country for most automobiles on the roads. Texas is also home to Genan, the tyre recycling operation.
In fact, at the heart of Eco-Flex’s mission is a commitment to safeguarding the environment. Its products solve for two major ecological issues: Firstly, excessive timber use in construction leading to deforestation; and secondly, overuse of concrete, which is responsible for up to eight per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions, leading to harmful greenhouse gases.
“Texas is the ideal location for our new facilities. Its strong economy, green-friendly attitude, and the willingness of officials at all levels to collaborate with us made our decision a no-brainer,” said Cour. “Every day, Eco-Flex helps transform a century-old environmental problem into a collection of innovative solutions for public and residential applications, and the state, business community and Texans, in general, are on board with that.”
Manufacturing at the new Lampasas plant is expected to begin in August with products available for purchase directly from the US operations office. The company will continue its strong operational presence in Canada.
