Japanese Injection Molding Machine Plant To Open San Antonio Facility

SAN ANTONIO, TX — Officials at Tokyo-based Nissei Plastic Industrial Co. on Wednesday announced plans to build a $20 million plastic injection molding machine plant in San Antonio, markings its entry in the U.S.

The plant will be based at Brooks City Base, a former military installation reshaped as an industrial park since being shuttered by the government. The 115,000-square-foot factory will be the first plant in the U.S. for the company and only the third outside of Japan.

Company officials said the area's geographic location is handy with plans to distribute product throughout the Americas. The plant manufacturing plastic injection molding machines is expected to be fully operational by February of 2018, and expected to employ dozens of people, city officials said, although the exact number of jobs created is unknown.

Local media reported news of the plant after company officials officially formally made the announcement on Wednesday, but the firm previously disclosed its plans in a Dec. 9 press release that appears on its website.

"The new plant is ideally situated to supply expanding demand in North America, and represents a key part of Nissei’s plans for a global production and distribution network," officials said. "The three main factors that led to the choice of Brooks City Base were as follows: (1) Texas is roughly in the middle of the North and South American continent and close to the Midwest region where auto industries are concentrated. San Antonio itself has recently attracted a number of auto makers. The region also boasts ready access to Mexico, with its own rapidly growing auto industry; (2) Texas has a very attractive state tax regime, including zero corporate and personal income taxes for the state;(3) San Antonio is relatively less influenced by natural disasters comparing other areas in Texas."

>>> Rendering of plant courtesy Nissei Plastic Industrial Co.