MWV Pilot Plant Advancing Innovation In Greater Richmond

MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV), a global leader in packaging and packaging solutions, today announced the official opening of its state-of-the art pilot plant located in Eastern Henrico County. A key component of MWV’s Center for Packaging Innovation (CPI), the pilot plant is a 48,000 square foot packaging materials and technologies research and development facility. To help kick off the opening, MWV hosted Virginia State Senator Donald McEachin for a tour of the facility. McEachin was given an inside look at the plant’s operations and capabilities. Joining McEachin were members of MWV’s global innovation team and Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) President and CEO Brett A. Vassey.

In 2010 MWV decided to move its Center for Packaging Innovation and the pilot plant, from Raleigh, N.C. to the company’s global headquarters in Richmond, Va. Since that time the company has been hard at work relocating and hiring CPI and pilot plant employees, selecting the site for the pilot plant, engineering, building out, and equipping the facilities. MWV has invested more than $13 million in infrastructure and equipment to establish the pilot plant in Eastern Henrico County. Today the pilot plant is fully operational.

Bringing the Center for Packaging Innovation and the pilot plant to Richmond has created 114 new jobs over two years (108 housed in CPI facilities at MWV’s corporate headquarters downtown, 6 at the pilot plant); These high-value jobs, paying approximately $13 million in annual wages and employee incentives, supplement another 736 employees also located at corporate headquarters. In total, MWV employs 850 in Greater Richmond with annual wages and benefits of more than $117 million.

“MWV’s decision to bring its pilot plant to the Ninth Senate District in Henrico County is more proof that we have the talent and infrastructure to support innovative projects like these; we can be a hub for innovation,” said Senator McEachin. “I am proud that MWV calls Richmond home, pleased to welcome its new pilot plant to Eastern Henrico County, and we look forward to watching the operation succeed for many years to come.”

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