Newell Rubbermaid opens manufacturing center in Tennessee

Newell Rubbermaid on December 3 announced that its Office Products group has opened a state-of-the-art Liquid Manufacturing and Technology Center (LMTC) in Coffee County's Interstate Industrial Park in Manchester, Tenn.

The Liquid Manufacturing and Technology Center, which will manufacture ink for the company's office products brands, including Sharpie markers and highlighters and Paper Mate pens, represents a $12.5 million capital investment by Newell Rubbermaid for building and land improvements and equipment. In addition to ink manufacturing, the facility also will handle ink design and testing. It will supply the company's nearby writing instrument manufacturing facilities in Tennessee as well as its operations in Europe, Latin America and Asia. The 67,240-square-foot facility is expected to be one of the largest of its type in the world.

"The Liquid Manufacturing and Technology Center is a key addition to our operations in Tennessee, and we are pleased to expand our position in the community by putting down new roots in Manchester," said Penny McIntyre, group president of Office Products for Newell Rubbermaid. "Over the years, we've found the state of Tennessee and its communities to be tremendous partners, providing an outstanding workforce. This facility will play an important role by supplying ink for our products as we drive growth here in the U.S. and internationally."

Newell Rubbermaid's Office Products group has had a considerable presence in middle and east Tennessee for several decades. In addition to the LMTC, a new center of excellence for packaging recently began production adjacent to the company's existing distribution center in Shelbyville, Tenn., and a center of excellence for the manufacture of writing instruments is located in Maryville, Tenn.

"We appreciate the investment of Newell Rubbermaid in the community of Manchester," Commissioner Matt Kisber of the Tennessee Department of Economic Development said. "The solid manufacturing jobs this facility is creating are the backbone of Tennessee's economy, and we at the state look forward to continued partnership with this growing company."

Coffee County Mayor David Pennington added, "Coffee County is pleased that Newell Rubbermaid has made such a significant investment in this state-of-the-art ink manufacturing facility, and we welcome Newell Rubbermaid as the newest member of our industrial community."

About Newell Rubbermaid

Newell Rubbermaid Inc., an S&P 500 company, is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products with sales of approximately $6 billion and a strong portfolio of brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Calphalon, Irwin, Lenox, Levolor, Paper Mate, Dymo, Waterman, Parker, Goody, Technical Concepts and Aprica.