March 2021 Spray 15
American Spraytech (AST), Branchburg, NJ, is about to
embark on a $20 million capital investment plan in the next 18
months. Part of that plan was the commissioning of the company’s
second BOV line in February 2021 to support the growing
demand for BOV products in the industry.
“Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, American
Spraytech is confidently moving ahead with this capital investment
plan,” explained Angelique Williams, Head of Partner
Service at AST.
“Much of this investment will focus on providing the robust infrastructure
that we need to support our ambitious growth plan.”
Toward the end of 2020, a 14,000-sq-ft warehouse facility
expansion was completed at 200 Meister Ave. at the Branchburg
campus. There were also warehouse expansions at the 160
Meister Ave. and 210 Meister Ave. facilities. Later this year, plans
are in place to break ground for a brand-new 70,000-sq-ft facility
at 100 Meister Ave., located just down the road from the current
plant. Once completed, it will house the two BOV lines as well as
other high speed production lines. With the recent and planned
expansion, AST’s campus footprint in Branchburg will increase
to 300,000-sq-ft altogether.
Finally, the space vacated by the existing BOV line will make
way for a new high-speed conventional aerosol line at 205 Meister
Ave. This eighth line will facilitate orders with a full range of
run sizes from 15,000 to one million units. Under this plan,
by Spring of 2022, AST is slated to have eight fully operational
production lines, which will comprise two BOV lines and six
conventional aerosol lines, four of which will have high-speed
filling capabilities.
According to Williams, the AST Research & Innovation (R&I)
team has taken inspiration from the opportunities created by
consumers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to create an array
of targeted personal care products. Collaborations with trusted
raw material and packaging vendors have allowed for the strategic
development of new consumer-centric innovations, including
more sustainability-focused products featuring the Solstice propellant
and Solstice Enhance materials from Honeywell.
“A noteworthy project that the R&I team embarked on was
the creation and distribution of ‘Innovation Care Packages’ to
customers,” explained Williams.
“These consisted of breakthrough personal care and beauty
products proactively developed by the team. The mantra—If you
can dream it, we can spray it—is not just a popular phrase at AST,
it is an open-minded philosophy that inspires the innovation
process.”
Additionally, private bank Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH)
has become an investing partner, providing backing and capital
resources to expand operations and support sustained growth at
AST. A key aspect of the partnership with BBH is an incentive
plan that helps ensure that each of the 260 AST employees has a
significant stake in the shared success of the company.
“This is a bold new move, but we strongly believe the best
investment we can make is in our people” said AST President &
CEO Allen Lalwani.
“This program is also designed for us to attract and retain the
very best talent in the industry, as we look to make strategic hires,
including in the Purchasing, Planning, Scale-Up Engineering and
IT areas, among others.”
The Proof is in the Personnel
A good team is essential to any firm’s success, that’s why PLZ
Aeroscience Corp. tapped Sherwin Williams executive Aaron
Erter as President & CEO. He succeeds
Ed Byczynski. Erter most recently served
as President of Sherwin Williams Co.’s
Performance Coatings Group. Previously,
he held roles at The Valspar Corp. and
Stanley Black & Decker.
Chad Moline was promoted to VP of
Business Development at Spray Products
Corp., Plymouth Meeting, PA. He was previously
Director of Business Development.
Samantha Gribben has returned to
American Spraytech
Erter
(AST) as its new Director of Innovation.
Gribben began her career as a chemist at
AST in 2008, training in aerosol formulation,
packaging and testing under industry
pioneer Bill Lueschen. During her tenure,
she formulated several breakthrough
products, was granted a U.S. patent and
further trained other chemists in aerosol
science. For the last five years, she served as
Senior Scientific Liaison to Open Develop-
Gribben
Chase Products Co., Broadview, IL sent several shipments of
Chase’s Home Value Disinfectant Spray to northern New Jersey,
a COVID-19 pandemic hotspot, for distribution among the
community. Pictured, Real Dog Rescue in Mahwah, NJ happily
shows off a can of Chase’s Home Value spray donated to the
rescue, which had been running low on disinfecting supplies.