Roseburg based “Apex Block” has made an announcement that it will build 11 new styrofoam building block manufacturing plants in the next 16 months, including one in the Roseburg-area. The company already has a small headquarters in Roseburg. It will expand those headquarters in the coming months as well. With a new manufacturing plant and headquarters expansion, Apex Block believes it will add 100 jobs to the Roseburg workforce in the next year. Those jobs will include manufacturing labor jobs, shipping and receiving, also administrative office jobs.

 

The company makes Styrofoam blocks, mixed with concrete and a special glue or binding agent. The result is lightweight, durable, and 100% recycled Styrofoam construction grade block. Contractors use the blocks today on exterior walls in homes and small buildings.

 

“It's a good viable alternative to building materials now,” says Phil Bigler, Operations Manager of Apex Block.

 

Once in place, the blocks are then filled with concrete and rebar. Apex Block says its product is fire and pest resistant, also energy efficient. The company says its seen a large increase in demand for the product, leading to its expansion.

 

“Our goal is to break out of just the housing market, and build just about any structure you can think of,” says Bigler.

 

Breaking out, could mean big things for industry in Douglas County, helping bring other contractors and manufacturers back to work, according to Apex Block representatives.

 

“It's getting people back to work. Even though it's not a wood industry product, it's complimentary to that,” says Mary Gilbert, Executive Vice President for Apex Block.

 

While Apex Block’s products compete with wood industry jobs, Gilbert says they don’t eliminate them.

 

“We're still going to need carpenters and wood frame products to get homes built,” says Gilbert.

 

Apex Block is planning to roll out the Roseburg plant by the end of 2010. It hopes to hire for new job by the end of the summer. The company says it likely won’t have 100 jobs out immediately, but roll more out as manufacturing picks up.

 

“I'm hoping that maybe this interest in our company starting up with help other companies and make it easier for us to broaden our horizons with manufacturing,” says Gilbert.

 

Meanwhile, Bigler believes Apex Block’s product has major promise.

 

“I think the future is wide open, I mean I think that it's... It has the potential to possibly revolutionize the way that we are building,” says Bigler.

 

Apex Block is still looking for a site for its new Roseburg headquarters and manufacturing plant. It is looking around the Roseburg-area for potential locations. Speaking about the recession and its impact on the building industry, Bigler says, “It has touched everyone, and it’s nice to be a part of something that's putting people back to work.”

 

“It’s pretty exciting, I am a Roseburg native and I’m proud of living here,” says Gilbert. “I’ve seen the ups and downs of the Roseburg economy and it’s nice to bring in more industry to Roseburg,” says Gilbert.