Conecuh County Economic Development announced that Tenax Corp. plans to invest $1 million on improvements and new production machinery at its manufacturing facility in Evergreen. Tenex has operated its Evergreen facility for decades.
The upgrades to the facility also means that Tenax will create eight to twelve additional jobs tied to a new initiative to make the Evergreen facility more efficient and environmentally friendly. The growth project is expected to be complete by this fall.
Tenax Corp is based in East Baltimore, Maryland. The company is known for its trademark orange plastic safety fencing at construction sites, a product that has been widely copied by its competition. The company also makes specialty products for netting, pipe protection, construction, agriculture, gardening and do-it-yourself applications.
Jessica Dent is the director of Conecuh County Economic Development.
“The Tenax expansion is providing the spark our community needs to demonstrate Conecuh County is the place to be,” said Dent.
The Tenax manufacturing facility is in Evergreen, where it has operated since 1992. The project will create a dozen jobs.
“Combined with their investment and the Alabama workforce programs, we are adding jobs, upskilling employees and taking care of the environment — this really demonstrates partnerships in action,” Dent added.
Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones told 1819 News, “Tenax Corporation serves the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America with specialty products for netting and fencing, pipe protection, construction, agricultural, gardening, and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. Tenax Corporation stated that throughout their tenure as a plastic fence manufacturer for commercial and civil customers, the company maintained its promise to be a pioneer in the Made in USA movement by using only prime selected raw material and domestic suppliers in support of its business. Tenax Corporation’s goal is to create long-term value for customers and employees, and we are thankful that Tenax has chosen to further its mission by enhancing operations at its present facility in rural Conecuh County (Evergreen). The announcement serves as an opportunity for other businesses to recognize what rural Alabama has to offer - value, heart, and a dedicated workforce that allows companies to grow.”
Conecuh County Economic Development explained that the Tenax expansion project has many facets.
To continuously improve the work environment, the company will invest in improved air quality and flow improvements for the production floor. To increase safety, overhead doors will be installed to protect workers from extreme weather and to protect and enhance forklift operations.
Additional improvements include enclosing the outdoor warehouse to add a plastic reprocessing machine. This machine will allow Tenax to reuse its generated plastic scrap, creating an environmentally conscious full-cycle process.
Tenax will also install in-house recycling machinery to repurpose excess waste back into the manufacturing process, an addition that is part of the company’s zero-waste recycling initiative.
Greg Canfield is the Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“Opportunities abound for companies in Alabama’s rural areas, and we are committed to helping unlock the growth potential present in communities like Evergreen, allowing them to benefit from the energizing effect of new investment and job creation,” Secretary Canfield said.
Dent said that the South Alabama Workforce Development Council will coordinate the AlabamaWorks partnership, and collaborate with state and local workforce partners in Conecuh County to provide education and training for the new manufacturing processes at Tenax.
Conecuh County Economic Development is a joint partnership between the Conecuh County Commission and the City of Evergreen.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
