“This plant used to make a bunch of pigment that went into publications, newspapers and magazines. We’re running about 30% capacity.”
Brian Pancyzk is Chief Manufacturing Officer and President of Color Materials for Sun Chemical in Muskegon.
One of its products is a yellow pigment used in paint striping roads and runways, but Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin notes most of the pigment purchased in the U.S. comes from China.
Visiting the plant to tout her Paving the Way for American Industry Act, the Democrat from Holly emphasized the importance of self-reliance.
“Critical items like chemicals, our defense industry, manufacturing, food. How about the food we eat every day? We should always be able to feed ourselves by ourselves.”
Sun Chemical leaders say they are ready for a “Buy American” shift.
“We’re ready to go. It’s easy for us to turn the switch. The chemicals are pretty similar. We’ve got full capacity to turn this on.”
The expansion would likely add 30-40 new jobs to its current workforce.
Slotkin is confident her bill will be passed out of committee and be part of a larger transportation package later this year, with an identical bill proposed in the House.
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