Mexican packaging company building $65.3M plant in Chesterfield

Mexican packaging solutions company Cartograf will invest $65.3 million to build its first U.S. folding and micro-corrugated package printing facility in Chesterfield County's Meadowville Technology Park, according to an announcement Wednesday from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam. The manufacturing plant will create 63 jobs.

Virginia competed with North Carolina and Georgia to land the project, which will serve industrial customers in the northeastern U.S. and Canada. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Chesterfield County, the Port of Virginia and the Greater Richmond Partnership to secure the factory. Northam approved a $750,000 grant from the Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund to assist Chesterfield with the project. Cartograf is also eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia's Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. VEDP will provide the company with employee training funding and services through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program. Charlotte, North Carolina-based commercial real estate firm The Keith Company assisted Cartograf.

“Securing Cartograf’s first operation in the United States is a significant win for Virginia and is a strong testament to the outstanding global connectivity that we offer manufacturers of all sizes,” Northam said in a statement. “By locating in the greater Richmond region, Cartograf will have access to major markets and the Port of Virginia, which will support the company’s continued growth for years to come. We thank the company for choosing to locate in Chesterfield County, and we are honored to welcome Cartograf to our commonwealth.”

Based in Mexico City and founded in 1986, Cartograf provides packaging solutions to international customers in more than 40 industrial sectors, including food and beverage and personal hygiene. 

“For the past 30 years, Cartograf has partnered with worldwide brands across a diverse group of industries and our products are part of people’s everyday lives through a large array of packaging solutions,” said Cartograf's president, Juan Jose Páramo Riestra. “Cartograf’s main facilities are located in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and as a result of constant organic growth and a substantial market share increase, the company is proud to announce its first overseas expansion, consisting of a new manufacturing facility located in the Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield, Virginia. This would not have been possible without the cooperation and support from Chesterfield County, the Commonwealth of Virginia and The Keith Corporation. Cartograf looks forward to this new venture and contributing to the growth of the surrounding community.”