MAPEI Opens in California

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – For MAPEI, late January came up with a lucky seven … as in the opening of its seventh U.S. plant here.
The Jan. 24 ceremonies, with a crowd of corporate and local civic officials, inaugurated the 100,000 ft² packaging and warehouse facility. The plant is the 14th North American facility for the Italian installation-materials and tools company.
“It’s a pleasure to put number 14 up on the board,” said Nicholas DeTempora, MAPEI Americas president, at the opening.
The facility, situated along Interstate 215 in the Southern California city, includes a technical lab, warehouse space and a filling/packaging line to supply dry mixes to customers in the southwestern United States.
DeTempora noted the plant, in its current configuration, will be able to produce approximately 150 tons of material per shift and employs 36 people. Running a round-the-clock, three-shift schedule would most likely double the workforce and increase annual production to more than 80,000 tons of product.
He credited local officials, including San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles, for their aid in easing the plant’s construction.
“Building in California altogether is not easy,” he said of getting the facility approved and finished. “We went through it, but I probably could have had a son faster … but it wouldn’t have been as pretty.”
The plant can be enlarged to double its size, which MAPEI officials noted is already on the drawing board.
“We will be capable to grow here,” said Dr. Giorgio Squinzi, MAPEI Group CEO. “We will employ many more people than initially will start at this plant.”
Milan-based MAPEI is a privately held, family owned company with annual revenues of more than $1 billion.