Plastikon to receive CARES Act funding facilitated by the SPARK Taskforce
Plastikon Healthcare, LLC, today announced plans to bring new jobs and economic expansion to Lawrence and the State of Kansas through additional production of critical COVID-19 testing supplies, and credited the State of Kansas for its critical support of the project.
For Plastikon, the strong commitment from the State of Kansas, to include CARES Act funding facilitated by Governor Laura Kelly’s SPARK Taskforce, was instrumental in the company moving forward with plans to add a new test tube manufacturing suite in its Lawrence facility. Plastikon chose to expand in Kansas as opposed to its California headquarters.
Plans call for the installation and qualification of several injection molding lines for test tube production, which will provide much needed testing supplies in the fight against COVID-19. A clean-room environment will house the injection molding lines, with expansion capability to add additional lines. The new lines will be equipped with 100% visual inspection equipment prior to final packaging by Plastikon’s trained and valued packaging staff. Initial test tube production will be diverted to support COVID-19 testing as well as support continued virus testing for the influenza virus responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year.
“We were pleased to help facilitate a great partnership between Plastikon and the state of Kansas, ensuring the production of vital testing supplies related to coronavirus,” said Steve Kelly, vice president of economic development at The Chamber of Lawrence. “Our community and region appreciates the investment and commitment Plastikon has made here, and the willingness of the state to providing important funding to manufacturers and other businesses through SPARK funding.”
The quick response by the State of Kansas enabled fast-tracking of the project at the speed the nation needs during this critical time. In addition to providing the product, the new lines will bring approximately 40 new jobs to the Lawrence/Douglas County community, which will benefit workers displaced by the pandemic. Production of the test tubes is set to begin in September 2020.
Plastikon is committed to growing and maintaining a presence in the state of Kansas, and values the opportunities presented in the availability of highly skilled workforce and the proximity of several centers of learning such as the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Peaslee Technical Training Center, which all provide avenues of continued training and the ability to attract local talent and keep highly skilled employees in Kansas.
Plastikon has enjoyed 10 years of success in Lawrence and is fully expecting many more years of continued growth in the healthcare sector. Plastikon’s efforts made possible by State of Kansas support will not only create high-paying jobs and opportunities in Kansas, but also save the lives of countless Americans in need of testing in order to return to work and achieve a quality of life that is the foundation of the American dream.
