German industrial packaging group Mauser (Brühl; www.mausergroup.com) is investing USD 10m (EUR 8.7m) in a new facility in Geismar, Louisiana / USA. Mauser USA will operate a 3,700 m² packaging and logistics facility on a 2-hectare site in the Talon Industrial Park, near its major industrial customers in Ascension Parish sites.

In the initial phase, the facility will produce custom-engineered plastic containers for shipping industrial chemicals. Additional phases could include steel and other forms of packaging in response to industry demand. The first phase will create 28 new jobs, with a potential second phase adding another 19 jobs. A timescale for the project has not been disclosed.

Commenting on Mauser’s choice of location, Louisiana state governor John Bel Edwards said, “Louisiana is a global leader in the production of petrochemicals, with the Geismar area of Ascension Parish being one of our most important production hubs for this vital industry.” Mauser USA’s president and CEO, Glenn Frommer, added that Louisiana’s strong business climate, strategic supply chain and powerful workforce programmes made the decision a logical one.

Louisiana Economic Development, which started working on the project with Mauser USA in December 2015, offered incentives that include workforce development, Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programmes. The Quality Jobs programme provides a cash rebate to companies that create well-paid jobs and promote economic development.