It’s always exciting when people get the chance to come together and celebrate the growth of their community. On Tuesday, August 29 American RENOLIT held a fun ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of its newest Calender Line, Line 35, and everything it means for the City of La Porte.
American RENOLIT's celebration of its new line has been a long time coming. The project began before COVID-19 when American RENOLIT realized it was producing at maximum capacity. To increase capacity by nearly 20%, the company decided to invest over $27 million dollars in building a new line, making it one of the company’s biggest machinery investments in the United States.
The installation of the new American RENOLIT line means big things for the City of La Porte. Firstly, it means that over 30 new jobs have been created for community members.
“Not only is this creating jobs, but it’s creating high-quality jobs. We’ve worked to focus on building partnerships with companies and manufacturers that pay higher wages and offer better benefits so that our working community members don’t struggle. American RENOLIT is one of those fabulous partners; we are fortunate to have them as a cornerstone of our manufacturing,” said Mayor Tom Dermody.
Even more importantly, the installation of the new line showcases that the City of La Porte is quickly becoming a place of industry and opportunity. For years, the city has been working to make La Porte an inviting place for businesses to call home, and American RENOLIT's continued growth proves those efforts are paying off.
“As soon as we implemented this new production line we entered a world of boundless possibilities. This state-of-the-art line represents not only critical infrastructure but is also a symbol of innovation. It is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and our commitment to delivering exceptional products to our valued customers,” said Nils Dietz, president of American RENOLIT.
The American RENOLIT team knew they had to hold a special gathering to honor these feats. Countless community members including Dermody, his wife Jackie Dermody, and Bert Cook from the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership came out to the ribbon-cutting to show their camaraderie.
The American RENOLIT team was touched to have so many community members congratulate them on this huge achievement. It drove home that American RENOLIT is more than just a company--it’s an integral part of La Porte.
“To see so many people coming out and supporting us creates the feeling that we are at home in La Porte and recognized as an important part of the community. We appreciate all the support we’ve been given not just for this project, but all the projects we’ve done here in La Porte over the years,” said Michael Kundel, CEO of American RENOLIT.
After enjoying some delicious snacks and taking part in some delightful conversation, everyone broke up into groups to check out the new line. The American RENOLIT team guided everyone through the facility answering questions and pointing out interesting details. The guests were truly taken aback by how great the new machinery was. They even had the chance to say hi to a few American RENOLIT employees working on the new line.
“I always like to see this level of innovation and new ways of doing things. I learn every time I go into a facility like this. I’m excited to have had the opportunity to check it out and I can’t wait to stay in contact with American RENOLIT to continue our partnership and make sure they have everything they need to be successful,” said Dermody.
Ultimately, American RENOLIT’s celebration of its new line couldn’t have been a bigger hit. The leaders of American RENOLIT are proud of and grateful for all the people who made the new Calender Line a reality.
“I want to thank the board and the owners for believing in us and investing their money. I want to thank the local team for working on this so hard day and night year after year. I’m also thankful for all the suppliers involved in helping us build this piece of equipment. Everyone did such a tremendous job and we should all be very proud of this achievement,” said Dietz.
American RENOLIT's growth and celebrations don’t end here, though. Next year will be the company’s 25th anniversary of being in La Porte. The American RENOLIT team can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with the community and see where the future takes them.
“I’m fully convinced that there will be many more important steps to take ahead. I would like to wish our team all the best and the best foresight to maneuver through all the good and difficult times,” said Kundel.
To learn more about American RENOLIT and its impact on the community, visit renolit.com/laporte.
