PPI America Inc. of Illinois, a subsidiary of South Korea’s PPI Pipe Co. Ltd., will invest $52.2 million in a new manufacturing plant in Cedar City, Utah, and add 50 new jobs over the next five years, according to a report in Plastics News. PPI America says it is expanding its efforts to supply clean, safe water to more U.S. communities through its iPVC products.
“During our evaluation of expanding our presence in the U.S., when looking at Utah and Cedar City specifically, we were extremely impressed with the rapid development of Iron County and its logistical advantages,” PPI America President Agnes HyeJung Lee said in a news release.
In Utah, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) awarded PPI America a tax reduction as part of the state’s Rural Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (REDTIF) program. “Clean, reliable water is vital to Utah’s future,” GOEO Executive Director Jefferson Moss said. “PPI America Inc. delivers safe drinking water while driving innovation, strengthening communities, and helping Utah attract new businesses.”
Founded in 1976, the parent company PPI Pipe Co. Ltd. produces PVC pipe and fittings for water and plumbing systems. PPI America was established in 2013 and began importing the company’s iPVC-brand water pipe into the United States, where it has been installed in various regions across the country. Now, the company will manufacture the iPVC products in Utah.
Earlier this year, PPI’s iPVC pipe and fittings became the first in the U.S. to receive NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification as being free of PFAS compounds, which the company says ensures it provides safe drinking water. The company passed NSF’s in-house testing for seven different PFAS compounds, including six that are EPA-regulated.
Meeja McAllister with NAI Excel represented the buyer in the purchase of the industrial facility in Cedar City, including 269,000 square feet on 57 acres. “I was glad to connect PPI America with the Cedar City Economic Development office early in the process,” McAllister said. “It’s exciting to see this level of investment and growth in our community. I believe the positive impact of this company will be felt for years to come.”