Carver Non-Woven Technologies, a manufacturer of nonwovens, announced plans to establish operations in Fremont, IN.
 
The company will invest $17.13 million to renovate and equip a former Amcast Automotive plant at 706 E. Depot, which has been vacant for nearly 10 years. The 143,580-square-foot facility will house state-of-the-art equipment allowing Carver to create high-end, lower weight, quality fiber products for automotive, recreational vehicle and household products for customers. Renovations are already underway, and the company plans to begin production in the second quarter of 2016.
 
Carver is a new subsidiary of Indiana-based R3 Composites Corporation, which announced plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Grabill, IN, in 2011. Carver has already begun hiring and plans to employ 65 associates by 2018.
 
“The technology Carver Non-Woven will introduce to the nonwoven market will be cutting edge in its ability to create low variance sheet weight (density), highly homogeneous resonated blends and multiple fiber/glass matrixes with superior dimensional stability and mechanical properties,” says Kirk Klein, chief financial officer of R3 Composites Corporation.
 
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Carver Non-Woven Technologies up to $475,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until employees are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Fremont will consider additional incentives at the request of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation.