TEMPLE, Texas— The Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) today announced that Western Emulsions, Inc., will expand by adding its sixth location in the U.S. and the first in Texas on a 4.5-acre tract of land in the Temple Industrial Park located near the intersection of IH-35 and Loop 363 in northwest Temple. The new multi-million-dollar asphalt emulsion manufacturing plant will enable Western Emulsions, which has been serving West Texas customers out of its location in Roswell, New Mexico, to reach the broader Texas market. Construction on the project is expected to begin immediately and be complete late spring 2014.
Founded in 1977 in Tucson, Ariz., Western Emulsions manufactures and distributes sustainable asphalt emulsion products used for pavement preservation and recycling applications, which help state, county and local agencies maintain their road networks more efficiently and cost-effectively.
“Temple is the ideal location for our company because it is a business-friendly city in the middle of one of our largest target markets,” Western Emulsions President and CEO Kevin Trant said.“Our new, central location in Temple will enable us to effectively and efficiently serve the large State of Texas.”
Trant said he anticipates that Western Emulsions will expand at the Temple location over the next two to five years.
“For a company with manufacturing and distribution needs, Temple offers a central location in Texas and a solid transportation infrastructure that includes rail and immediate highway access,” Temple EDC Vice President Charley Ayres said. “We are proud to add to our list of growing, established and successful businesses with Western Emulsions’ expansion to Temple with a significant investment in our local economy.”
The City of Temple and Patriot Rail Corp. formed a rail subsidiary, Temple & Central Texas Railway, with an exclusive long-term license agreement that provides rail switching and other rail-related services to customers in the Temple Industrial Park. As part of the project, Western Emulsions will add a rail spur—a short secondary rail line that will branch off from the main rail line in Temple.
A general contractor has not yet been selected for the project.
The company will employ at least 7 full-time workers and 2 part-time workers at the new Temple facility.
About Western Emulsions, Inc.
With operations in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Montana, and sales and marketing covering the entire Western U.S., Western Emulsions is a leading innovator and supplier of branded and standard asphalt emulsions used for pavement preservation, repair and restoration projects. The company assists public agencies and owners of infrastructure in developing sustainable and cost-effective solutions to maintaining and recycling their asphalt pavements. For more information, visit www.westernemulsions.com.
About Temple
Temple, Texas, is a community with a diverse economic base that includes healthcare, distribution and warehousing, and manufacturing as its foundation. Within 200 miles of a population of 19 million, Temple is strategically located 39 minutes north of the Austin Metro Area on I-35, making it central within the Southwest U.S. marketplace. For more information, visit www.choosetemple.com.
