Ribbon cut on solar-powered manufacturing facility in Mount Vernon, IL ​

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Governor JB Pritzker, Manner Polymers and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined local leaders and partners to cut the ribbon on the company’s new 108,000-square-foot, “100%” solar-powered manufacturing facility in Mount Vernon, Illinois.

Officials say the plant will manufacture electric vehicle (EV) PVC compounds, components for solar panels and materials for a wide range of industries. This will expand the company’s production capacity to 100 million pounds and create more than 60 jobs in southern Illinois.

“Manner Polymers’ decision to expand their production to Illinois is a testament to all our state has to offer and the state’s commitment to building upon our emerging clean energy economy,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “This state-of-the-art facility has brought jobs to the Southern Illinois region, bolstering our world-class workforce and driving the state forward as a leader in the EV and clean energy industry.”

Gov. Pritzker says this facility represents a major industry landmark for sustainability, serving as a first-of-its kind solar-powered PVC compounding plant using clean energy generated on-site. Manner Polymers, a leader in polymer compound manufacturing, will produce a wide array of PVC compounds, including automotive PVC compounds for use in electric vehicles and components for solar panels.

Officials say Manner Polymers is one of North America’s largest flexible PVC compounders, serving a broad range of markets—including automotive, appliance, construction, telecommunications, industrial, medical and agriculture.

“Not only will we incorporate the most advanced manufacturing control systems available, but we will also produce substantially all of the electricity that we use,” said Raj Bhargava, CEO of Manner Polymers. “Our objective is to build the lowest cost, highest quality, most environmentally sustainable flexible PVC compounding plant in the world.”