Composite decking companies expand, boosting PCR demand

Cedar Poly in Tipson, Iowa was just acquired by UFP Industries. | Cedar Poly website

Recycled-plastic decking manufacturers are responding to strong markets for their products by expanding production capacity, including UFP buying reclaimer Cedar Poly and Fiberon breaking ground on a facility in Tennessee.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based UFP Industries acquired Cedar Poly, adding plastic recycling to its retail operations in a move toward vertical integration.

UFP said in a press release that its subsidiary brand, Deckorators, acquired Cedar Poly for $17 million, which includes incentive payments of up to $1.5 million over three years if Cedar Poly meets performance goals.

Tipton, Iowa-based Cedar Poly is a full-service reclaimer of HDPE and LDPE and also recycles OCC. In 2021, it reported sales of approximately $17.3 million. Now, it will operate under UFP's Deckorators business unit and Cedar Poly's management team will continue in their management roles.

Landon Tarvin, vice president of Deckorators, said the acquisition will allow the company "to vertically integrate our sourcing of recycled polymers and increase our use of post-industrial waste materials in our industry-leading products without compromising quality."

UFP plans to invest in additional capabilities at Cedar Poly, the press release said.

Scott Rogers, vice president of Cedar Poly, said the sale will give the company more resources and "the ability to work hand-in-hand with the Deckorators team to innovate and improve the best composite decking in the industry."

Outdoor decking manufacturer Fiberon broke ground on a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Columbia, Tenn. to meet increased consumer demand.

The 130-acre plot the facility is being built on will create more than 300 jobs and manufacture PE decking and composite cladding. It will also have an on-site recycling facility to recycle baled plastic into pellets, a press release said.

The building will also have LED lighting, energy-efficient windows, energy-efficient technology for all chillers and air compressors and automation for increased safety and efficiency.

Production is scheduled to begin at the facility in late 2024. Fiberon was acquired in 2018 by Deerfield, Ill.-based Fortune Brands Home & Security and made improvements at its Meridian, Idaho plant in early 2020.