Revolution CEO Sean Whiteley speaks Wednesday morning at an event announcing the company's plan to expand its plant at the Little Rock Port and create 60 jobs.
Revolution of Little Rock, parent company of Delta Plastics of Little Rock, announced Wednesday plans for a $20 million, 36,000-SF expansion of its 100,000-SF manufacturing facility at the Little Rock Port.
The company expects to create 60 new jobs over the next two years. It already employs 290 at the site.
State, local and company officials made the announcement at 10 a.m. at the facility, 8801 Frazier Pike. Attendance was limited because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“The partnerships we formed and the support we have received at the local and state levels for this expansion project is a testament to the strength of the Little Rock community and the great state of Arkansas. We are grateful to work with such exceptional people who are committed to economic growth and environmentally sustainable business solutions,” CEO Sean Whiteley said in a news release. “Based on increased business demand, strong customer relationships and our strategic growth plan, the time is right to move forward with this major expansion.”
Revolution qualified for three incentives from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission: Advantage Arkansas, which provides a state income tax credit of 1% of total payroll; Tax Back, which provides sales tax refunds on building materials, taxable machinery and equipment; and $450,000 from the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund.
The project comes as the company steadily increases its presence in new markets, including the upper Midwest and California, where large concentrations of dairy and agriculture plastics are used and able to be collected and recycled.
Revolution said the Little Rock expansion will enable it to continue growing its product line of sustainably produced commercial polyethylene products that include construction film and sheeting, agriculture film, silo and dairy bags and geomembrane film.
The expansion will add two new blown film lines capable of producing 40 million-plus pounds of film products per year. The film is designed to incorporate high levels of post-consumer recycled plastic, a cornerstone of Revolution’s manufacturing model, the company said.
Revolution’s recycling programs collect and recycle 200 million pounds of used material each year. The company has been in business for more than 20 years.
“From the beginning, we have been unified by a single powerful mission of preserving our environment for future generations. We do this by diverting millions of pounds of plastic from landfills each year and turning it back into new products through our innovative collection and recycling processes,” Whiteley said.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson attended the announcement. He cited the company’s rise from humble roots in Stuttgart to an international leader in making and recycling of plastic goods.
“Their dedication to manufacturing sustainable products is the way of the future put into practice in the present,” Hutchinson said. “Revolution is an excellent corporate citizen and a perfect fit for Arkansas.”
Revolution’s brands include Delta Plastics, Revolution Bag, Revolution Ag, Rodeo Plastics and Command. The brands “are known leaders in promoting environmentally sustainable practices and products in each of their respective markets,” according to the company.
Last year, Revolution announced that Arsenal Capital Partners of New York had bought a controlling interest in the company for an undisclosed amount. At the time, Whiteley told Arkansas Business that Arsenal planned to grow Revolution, which has more than 800 employees and plants in Arkansas, California and Texas.
“Opening a new plant is something that we are looking at and will be doing in the future,” he said.
Later that year, The Stephens Group LLC of Little Rock announced that it had acquired “a significant minority interest” in the company “in support of” Arsenal’s investment.
Dhu Thompson, the former majority owner and chairman of Revolution, remains with the company as a board member. The Stephens Group said he would retain “a meaningful” investment in the company.
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