Progressive Converting (Pro-Con), the largest independent paper converter by market share in the United States, has leased 212,964 square feet of industrial space in Humboldt Industrial Park, Hazle Township, from Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services.
Pro-Con also operates a 230,000 square foot converting, warehouse and distribution facility on Maplewood Road in Humboldt and will continue to operate that facility.
The company has leased the balance of space available in Mericle’s 410,000 square foot building at 1104 North Park Drive. E.S. Kluft and Company and PECO Pallet each recently leased close to 100,000 square feet in the same building.
The expansion became necessary due to the growth of Pro-Con’s east coast business said Dan Curtin, President and CEO.
“The recent growth in our business has exceeded the capacity of our Maplewood Drive facility,” Curtin said. “The Mericle building will essentially double our footprint in the northeast and support our growth in the region over the next few years. We expect to retain all of our current employees at the Maplewood facility and will be adding approximately 25 employees in the first year in the new building with the potential to add another 25-35 within three years.”
“Humboldt Industrial Park is in close proximity to both interstate 80 and 81,” said Mike Kersten, V.P. Sales. “This geographic location allows the capability of cost effective services to the entire east coast. We can provide next day service to most markets,” he said.
The expansion into Mericle’s building comes after Pro-Con’s recent major purchase of a 136” A+F rewinder for its Maplewood Drive facility. “The 136” rewinder allows us to address the wider rolls that customers are looking to convert as well as provide additional capacity to meet the needs of both our web sales and converting divisions,” said Jeff Carew, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing.
Founded in 1991, Pro-Con is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin. The company has 300 employees in the U.S. and also has industrial facilities in Minnesota, Virginia, and California. Pro-Con’s five locations offer comprehensive paper converting, warehousing and distribution services.
In addition, to paper converting, Pro-Con offers an innovative “web-stocking program” designed to meet the critical demands of the printing industry.
For more information about Pro-Con, visit www.pro-con.net.
Mericle Vice President Bob Besecker, Jr. coordinated the real estate transaction. He said having existing space available is critically important when companies need to expand.
“We built our facility at 1104 North Park Drive on speculation several years ago,” said Besecker. "Because the building was ready at the right time, we were able to accommodate three companies that together employ more than 100 people. We plan to continue to prepare Ready to Go Sites and construct new buildings on speculation so that we continue to meet the needs of excellent companies like Pro-Con.”
Besecker thanked CAN DO Vice President of Sales and Marketing Joseph Lettiere for the site selection assistance he provided to Pro-Con during the company’s search for space.
Lettiere said the recent expansions in Humboldt reaffirm the park’s status as one of the premier business locations along the I-81 Corridor. “Since last August, E.S. Kluft & Company, PECO Pallet, GENCO, and Pro-Con have made major investments in Humboldt Industrial Park,” he said. “The park’s quick access to two major highways, Greater Hazleton’s productive workforce and Mericle’s investment in speculative construction continue to pay dividends,” he said.
