Rockfon, a subsidiary of Denmark-based ROCKWOOL International A/S, celebrated a grand opening for the new North America facility and three months of uninterrupted production. The 130,000-square-foot (12,000-square-meter) manufacturing facility started production in July and has been functioning well ever since, with the first deliveries of its acoustic stone wool ceiling panels already having been made to U.S. customers.
ROCKWOOL Group CEO Jens Birgersson cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. He was joined by the Governor of Mississippi Phil Bryant, plus other state and local government officials, customers and employees.
Birgersson states, "The U.S. market is increasingly important for Rockfon and the ROCKWOOL Group. This new manufacturing facility expands our North American capacity and will help us meet the growing demand here for acoustically advanced stone wool ceiling products. Paving the way for further growth, the facility brings us closer to our customers, shortens delivery time, and cuts transportation costs and environmental impact."
Attending the ribbon-cutting alongside the Group CEO and other state officials, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant commented, "Rockfon's grand opening coincides with the ROCKWOOL Group's 80th anniversary and serves as a strong testament to the success and continued growth of this company. It's also indicative of the competitive advantages a Marshall County location offers for industry-leading companies building foundations for growth in today's fast-moving economy."
'Made in the U.S.A.' brings Rockfon closer to customers
The state-of-the-art facility represents a USD $40 million investment for ROCKWOOL Group. Employing about 90 people, it is located next to an existing ROXUL* factory in Marshall County, Mississippi, about 30 miles (50 km) from Memphis, Tennessee. It means that Rockfon now can say that its complete ceiling systems are "Made in the U.S.A."
"Since Rockfon entered the North American market in 2013, we've been working hard to meet the growing demand for high-quality stone wool acoustic and other ceiling products. This new facility allows us to respond to market demands and service customer needs more quickly and efficiently – and to do so with products we're proud to say are 'Made in the U.S.A.'," says Rockfon President – Americas John Medio.
