NEW RPM PLANT LOCATED IN TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA

RPM's new 50,000 sq. ft. facility will have production areas, quality control laboratories, employee lounge, and supervisor’s stations with ample drive-in docks to load and transport the tiles to our customers. RPM was able to secure the property, valued at $2.5 million, for $1 million under evaluation.

Lobby view
of the Terre Haute facility

Quality is Our Most Important Product

Picture of Production Area

Whether it’s plastic pallets or plastic roofing tile, RPM management developed and implemented a unique processing system, based upon proprietary technology, which enables it to produce superior plastic pallets at a price competitive to (and in some cases lower than) wood pallets. We have a major price advantage over other plastic pallets because of our cost-efficient system and because raw material will generally consist of recyclable material.

RPM's pallets are based upon proprietary designs that enable us to accept and process most high-density plastic materials, including types and colors of plastic material that some processors must reject or discard. The essence of our technology is in our processing system. To the best of our knowledge, no other company is producing pallets in a similar manner. RPM currently grinds and processes recyclable plastic scrap. In addition to using the bulk of this material for RPM pallets and roofing products, we also offer regrind in truckload quantities to other molders when an excess exists.

Additionally, the mix of recyclable plastic materials that will be used enhances economy and structural integrity. The blends used consist of HDPE, PPO, Polypropylene and PET in a proprietary formulation. A thermoplastic additive, developed by RPM in conjunction with Endex Polymer Additives, Inc., enables the amalgamation of chemically incompatible polymers. This permits a significant reduction in raw material and processing costs while producing an end product of superior strength and durability.

The additive compatibilizes commingled dissimilar polymers, which would normally have little or no affinity for each other. It reduces melt viscosity and acts as a wetting agent for inorganic substances. Tests performed under strict laboratory conditions have clearly indicated a marked improvement in bonding. This additive also enables polymers to be molded at lower processing temperatures. Additionally, it serves as a filler or extender to thermoplastics thereby lowering the cost of the end product.

Companies such as Lee Carpet, Toyota, Goodyear, Dow Chemical, Exxon-Mobil, Kraft, Sara Lee, Armstrong World, Smurfit-Stone, Federal Mogul, General Dynamics, Black & Decker, Alliance Chemical, Thyssen Steel, Fuji Film and more are RPM customers.