Ecopax LLC is expanding one of its Lehigh Valley manufacturing locations to meet demand for its food packaging products that are made using energy-efficient processes and eco-conscious materials. 
The 104,328-square-foot expansion in Bethlehem, in Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII, will create up to 20 new jobs.
“Ecopax is committed to growing our sustainable manufacturing capabilities right here in the Lehigh Valley,” company Founder Peter Wong said.
The company’s customizable products include takeout containers, food trays, cups, lids, and bags.
Lehigh Valley’s $55.7 billion economy is driven by manufacturing and Ecopax is one of several Lehigh Valley manufacturers that have announced, completed, or started expansions or new locations in recent months.
About 700 manufacturers collectively produce an output of $9 billion a year, representing 16% of the region’s Gross Domestic Product. That puts the Lehigh Valley among the Top 15% of manufacturing markets in the nation. Employment in manufacturing has grown by 28.8% since 2010, three times the rate of the U.S.
Manufacturers that have expanded recently include B. Braun (medical equipment), Phoenix Tube (metal production), FLSmidth Cement (industrial equipment), and Bronkhorst USA (liquid and gas flow instruments).
Filter King (HVAC filters) and Myers Emergency & Power Systems (battery systems) opened new factories. Kervan USA (candy) broke ground on a manufacturing and packaging facility. Bosch Rexroth (hydraulics) broke ground on a logistics facility. Kerry Group (coffee roasting and extraction) announced plans for a new factory.
Ecopax is based in Forks Township. It expanded by constructing the Bethlehem location in 2017. Ecopax has three production facilities in the U.S. In addition to the two in the Lehigh Valley, there is one in California. The company also has four locations in Asia.
The expansion will be constructed by J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc., which built Ecopax’s plant in Forks Township in 2006.
“Ecopax’s continued investment in their Bethlehem facility illustrates the strength of our industrial parks and the value of long-term partnerships between local companies and experienced developers like J.G. Petrucci,” said Kerry Wrobel, President of Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, Inc.
The addition will complement an existing 315,643-square-foot manufacturing and warehousing facility. It will feature six new loading docks, 12 additional truck parking spaces, and upgraded fire protection infrastructure, including two new fire hydrants and a water line expansion.
(Photo courtesy of J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc.)