Aspen Aerogels opens $30-million manufacturing facility

Tag : silica aerogel

Aspen Aerogels yesterday showed off its newly opened150,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on Dexter Road in EastProvidence.
The $30-million investment in the new facility enables Aspen tomeet growing commercial demand for its nanoporous aerogel blanketinsulation. The company, which was formed in 2001, makes ahigh-tech insulating material based on silica, the main componentof sand. The insulation is produced in a blanket form and isprimarily used in industrial applications, especially the oilindustry, as an insulator for pipelines. But its use is expandingto include such diverse applications as the construction andfootwear industries.
“We are pleased to make this large investment in EastProvidence. The facility is the centerpiece of our growth plans,which focus on helping our customers worldwide achieve theirgoals,” said Don Young, Aspen’s president and chiefexecutive officer, in a statement.
The company said the expansion has brought dozens of jobs to RhodeIsland.
Aspen Aerogels is based in Northboro, Mass., with corporateoffices, research and development, laboratories and the originalmanufacturing facility located there. Sales offices are worldwideand the company exports its products to Europe, Asia and North andSouth America.
The company said that Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Patrick Kennedy wereboth instrumental in bringing critical support to the newmanufacturing plant.
“I am pleased that Aspen Aerogels is opening this newfacility and creating highly skilled manufacturing jobs here inEast Providence,” said Reed, a member of the AppropriationsCommittee and the Armed Services Committee. “The mostefficient thermal insulation in the world will be manufacturedright here in East Providence and it will help our troops in thefield with everything from protecting them from heat-seekingmissiles to reducing the weight of ships and making them moreenergy efficient.
“I am pleased to have secured federal funding for this effortto strengthen our military and boost Rhode Island’s economy.This is a win for our state and a smart investment that can reduceour military’s dependence on oil and also have meaningfulimplications in the commercial and consumer sectors as well.”
“Bringing Aspen Aerogels to East Providence is not only aninvestment in the city of East Providence, but more importantly, itis an investment in the people of Rhode Island,” saidKennedy. “The opening of this new facility will bring manynew jobs to the people of Rhode Island and in doing so, is animportant step in bringing stability back to the economy of RhodeIsland and its citizens.”
Governor Carcieri said, “Aspen Aerogels’ expansion is agreat thing for Rhode Island’s economy. In addition tocreating more high-wage jobs for Rhode Islanders, the expansionfurther strengthens our state’s position as a leader in hightechnology manufacturing.”