SANTA TERESA, N.M. – Prent Corporation, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of custom plastic, rigid thermoform packaging for the medical, electronics, and consumer industries — will be opening a new manufacturing facility in Santa Teresa, N.M. Prent plans to invest $12.5 million and create 85 new jobs. Headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin, Prent’s global footprint is strategically located to supply many of the world’s leading Fortune 100 companies.
In a display of regional cooperation, the Borderplex Alliance and MVEDA worked jointly to attract Prent Corporation to New Mexico. “Prent recognized immediately the logistical advantages that Santa Teresa had to offer,” said Davin Lopez, CEO & President of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA). “Access to rail and our international port of entry, combined with strong incentives from the State of New Mexico made their decision very clear. Additionally, Prent saw the value of our regional partnership efforts and its ancillary value to the long term success of their operations in the region.”
“When El Paso, Cd. Juarez and Doña Ana County work together and market ourselves as a region, there is no limit to what we can accomplish” commented Jon Barela, CEO of the Borderplex Alliance. Together we are more competitive, attractive, and offer a unique advantage to potential new businesses. My thanks to great partners like MVEDA and the state of New Mexico for understanding and embracing regionalism and our shared prosperity. On to the next one!”
In a press release issued by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office, Prent’s Sr. Vice President of Manufacturing Mark Rothlisberger stated “The Borderplex region makes perfect sense for Prent. It’s an area ripe for innovation and partnership. For over three years, we’ve worked closely with partners in the region to make this a reality. Over and over, we heard that the strength of the region is its collaboration across borders. Today’s announcement is a vindication of that model, one integrated region working together towards success,” said Rothlisberger.
The State of New Mexico is supporting the expansion with $500,000 in economic assistance from the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) fund, a job-creation or closing fund administered by the EDD. Earlier today, New Mexico’s Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham stated in her press release, “Southern New Mexico is brimming with opportunity. The growth potential here is limitless. These good-paying jobs are proof positive that New Mexico is known around the country as business-friendly and a great place to invest right now.”
Prent is also receiving economic assistance from Doña Ana County with a proposed IRB ordinance that goes to public hearings in the coming weeks. “Prent Corporation’s opening will add a substantial number of good paying jobs to Doña Ana County,” said county commission chair Lynn Ellins. “Santa Teresa is an excellent location for contributing to Prent’s success. This is especially good news to receive in the midst of a pandemic.”
Once the IRB is approved, Prent will build a 62,500 square-foot facility at the Santa Teresa Gateway Rail Park with the capacity to double its footprint in 5 years. With almost 600 employees, Prent has opened 5 greenfield facilities in the last 10 years and has never laid off an employee in its 53-year history.
The Santa Teresa Gateway Rail Park, owned and operated by Ironhorse Resources, Inc., has recently completed the development of 87 acres of fully entitled, rail-served lots ranging in size from 5 to 20 acres. In parallel with this land development, the Santa Teresa Southern Railroad, an IHR subsidiary, has completed the construction of an additional 10,500 feet of track and 10 acres designed as a train-loading facility for windmill components.
IHR Director of Land Development, Hildeberto Moreno said, “IHR appreciates the opportunity to work closely with the Borderplex Alliance, MVEDA, the New Mexico Partnership, the State of New Mexico, and Doña Ana County to bring Prent Corporation to the region. With the infrastructure, services and incentives provided by these organizations and the county and state, and IHR’s commitment to growing our facilities, it is clear that we are a community ready to accommodate the expansion of local and regional companies and to attract new companies to our region.”
The New Mexico facility, Prent’s 11th manufacturing facility, like it’s others will be ISO 13485 certified, have a class 8 certified clean room, and utilize the same Prent designed/built thermoformers used globally today. Operations are expected to begin in the fall of 2021, with construction to start as soon as approvals are in place. The average wage of full-time employees is expected to be $26.14, and $15.75 for part-timers.
The majority of parts that Prent produces are sterile barrier packages for medical devices. As such, the facility will be required to pass a detailed audit by the companies receiving product from Prent. Passing the audit offers Prent more supply chain certainty because the industry has high regulatory barriers for any new competition.
Prent was founded in 1967 by Jack and Carol Pregont in Janesville, Wisconsin. For over 50 years Prent has pioneered thermoforming processes and developed numerous innovations that have helped advance today’s industry standards.
To learn more about Prent and see job listings, please visit https://www.prent.com.
Release courtesy of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. Posted 10/8/2020.
