Demand Drives Restart of Terre Haute Plant
Jessica Navascues is CEO of Allura USA.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe head of a Texas-based building materials manufacturer says the reopening of its Terre Haute plant represents just the beginning of a long-term commitment to the Wabash Valley. Allura USA Chief Executive Officer Jessica Navascues says, when fully-operational, there could be upwards of 150 employees at the facility that restarted this year after being closed in 2014. "Stage one" plans, she says, involve the 60 employees already working at the nearly 440,000 square-foot plant that produces siding, trim, soffit and shakes from fiber cement.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Navascues said the workforce in Indiana is well-suited for what the company needs. "I think Indiana has great people, they’re all very engaged and committed," she said, "very focused people, very quality-oriented people. That is exactly what we’re looking for." The plant will serve as a painting and finishing center for the company and its location, Navascues added, will be beneficial. "I think there’s a great opportunity in the Midwest region. Homebuilders, the distributors and dealers are all excited about the fact that we are producing in Terre Haute."
In 2014, the Plycem division of Allura USA’s Mexico-based parent, Elementia, bought the plant, closed it, and said it would reopen once the housing market returned — a vow Navascues says the company has kept. "Last year, we really did a great job of putting out the product on the market. We exceeded our capacity with all of our customers, so we decided it was time for us to reopen the Terre Haute plant and here we are."
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Allura USA Chief Executive Officer Jessica Navascues said the workforce in Indiana is well-suited for what the company needs.