Lindal hints at possible growth

A Columbus company with global roots has hinted it might look to expand its three-building operation into one larger building in the next 18 months.

Lindal North America Inc., with a manufacturing facility and office building at 4775 and 4615 Progress Drive, and a warehouse in Hope, may try to put everything under one roof, said Richard Tracy, company treasurer and controller.

The company makes valves, actuators and spray caps for aerosol products. Its production fills the manufacturing building, and the company anticipates its current employee count could increase from 68 jobs now to 150 with the expansion, Tracy said.

Columbus City Council granted Lindal a 10-year tax abatement May 19 for the purchase of new manufacturing equipment for the plant.

The tax abatement was requested for $3.25 million in equipment to help launch several new actuator products, including those used in the containers for Cutter insect spray and a new straw and trigger for Dow’s Great Stuff, a foam insulating sealant.

Lindal plans to retain its current 68 jobs with the equipment expansion and add five jobs by the end of 2016, Tracy said.

The company currently has 2 percent to 3 percent of the market in its business category in the United States and expects that number to increase substantially in the future, Tracy said. The company has locations throughout Europe and South America and a facility in Mexico. The Columbus location is the company’s only production facility in the United States.

The company pays $3.4 million annually in wages and spends at least $1 million a year with local vendors in the Columbus area, Tracy said.

In Columbus, Lindal produces valves and actuators, straw and trigger mechanisms and valve assemblies for various products, including the yellow cap assembly on Lemon Pledge and those on Unilever products such as shave gels. The Simply Saline nasal actuators are in the company’s product line, as well as valves used on various aerosol products.

The new equipment will allow a modification in the straw and trigger mechanism for Great Stuff, which will allow the product to be stored, rather than thrown away after one use, Tracy said.

Other product lines the company supplies includes dry shampoo, deodorant and other products for Dow, Unilever, SC Johnson and L’Oreal.

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More information about Lindal North America Inc. is on the Web at lindalgroup.com.

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