Proppants Manufacturer Picks Arkansas for New Plant

Jan. 5, 2010

Oxane Materials Inc., a Houston-based manufacturer of highly conductive ceramic proppants, has tapped Van Buren, Ark., for the site of a new manufacturing plant.

Josh Cable

Oxane will launch the Van Buren manufacturing project with a $15 million capital investment and will employ approximately 50 employees by the summer of 2010, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Plans for expansion at Oxane's Van Buren facility are anticipated through 2014, with expected total capital investment of $32 million and additional employment of up to 300 total employees, according to the commission.

"Over the course of the past several weeks, the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, the city of Van Buren and the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce have worked closely with Oxane Materials and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC)," said Jackie Krutsch, executive director of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce. "The Van Buren Chamber of Commerce feels that it is critically important to work with our regional partners and the AEDC in order to see new job creation in the area."

Oxane's products are designed to increase oil and gas recoveries, particularly when working with unconventional assets such as shale, tight gas, tight oil and coal bed methane, according to the company.

About the Author

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.