• Minority-owned chemical distributor Midwest Chlor-Alkali LLC has announced plans to build a manufacturing plant adjacent to Cargill’s corn-milling facility in Eddyville, Iowa, contingent on completion of lease negotiations. A newly formed affiliate of Indianapolis-based Harris & Ford Midwest will make sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and bleach on 10 to 12 acres at the Cargill Eddyville complex, also known as the Iowa Bioprocessing Center. The plant will be capable of producing about 100,000 dry short tons of sodium hydroxide and 250,000 short tons of hydrochloric acid per year. It will serve Cargill’s eight North American corn-milling plants as well as other customers. Ground will be broken later this month, with first product expected to roll off the lines in early 2009.

• Henningsen’s Temperature Controlled Logistics Center in Scranton, Pa., has recently become one of an elite group of employers to be awarded SHARP (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program) status by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Scranton joins the company’s Twin Falls, Idaho and Grand Forks, North Dakota operations in being SHARP certified. SHARP recognizes employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. A SHARP certified facility is exempt from programmed OSHA inspections.

• Devault, Pa.-based Gamajet Cleaning Systems Inc. has moved its existing tank-cleaning machine operations to a new facility in Exton, Pa. The company says the new location will provide more space for expanded machine service and manufacturing capabilities, machine testing, product development and customer service. New state-of-the-art test equipment will facilitate the development of new products and accommodate customer-driven development programs. Test equipment will also enable the company to test all machines under actual operating conditions. In addition, added warehouse space will allow a larger inventory of machines for faster order fulfillment and enhanced parts availability. Gamajet will continue to offer 24-hour turnaround on machine repairs and servicing.

• Chatsworth, Calif.-based Ameri-Seal Inc. has moved to make way for the company’s growing business. The new 33,000-square-foot building, also located in Chatsworth, has a new department as well as many upgrades. “We’ve added a slitter and seamer area for our customers’ convenience,” says Devin Millstein, vice president of marketing for Ameri-Seal.  “The slitter and seamer will make getting clear materials to customers quicker. We can make almost any size. This will especially help customers in a hurry for clear film.” The new building also has expanded areas for Ameri-Seal’s Contract Sleeving Division, converting area and graphics department.

• This month, Cincinnati-based Total Quality Logistics (TQL) will be celebrating its 10th anniversary. TQL works with over 4,000 clients and 30,000 carriers in locating reliable trucks to transport freight across the country. “It is a great honor to be celebrating our 10-year anniversary,” says Ken Oaks, president and chief executive officer of TQL. “Over the past 10 years, we have gone from just two men in an office to over 780 full-time employees. It is great to look back and see how far we have come.”

• The OKI Group has announced the opening of its new China headquarters located in Shanghai. The new office will serve as OKI’s primary base of operations in Asia, with a focus on the greater China market. “We are excited to open OKI’s new sales, service, and marketing headquarters in Shanghai because the city is ideally situated for OKI to support expansion into greater China while remaining close to our key markets in Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea., says Stephen Kellett, president and chief operating officer. “Ultimately, the Shanghai office demonstrates OKI’s commitment to growth in China.”