HARRISBURG, PA — Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Inc. will invest $20.3 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Reading, a project backed by $500,000 in state funding that is expected to create 42 jobs and retain 441 existing positions, Pennsylvania officials said Wednesday.
The expansion adds manufacturing capacity for specialty engineering thermoplastics and composites, reinforcing Pennsylvania’s effort to attract capital investment in advanced manufacturing while preserving an established industrial employer in Berks County. The Shapiro administration said the project was secured through the Governor’s BusinessPA initiative.
The company plans to renovate its existing facility at 2120 Fairmount Ave. in Reading, construct an adjacent building, and install new manufacturing equipment to support production of engineering plastics and composite materials.
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is supporting the project with a $500,000 Pennsylvania First grant, according to the administration.
Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Chemical Group, manufactures high-performance thermoplastics and composite materials used across industries including industrial manufacturing and other engineering applications.
Daniel Barish, president of Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials Americas, said the project will establish “a Center of Excellence for the extrusion of general and advanced engineering plastics,” expanding the company’s manufacturing capabilities while creating additional jobs in the region.
State officials said the investment aligns with Pennsylvania’s strategy of targeting manufacturing projects that generate long-term capital investment and employment growth. The administration identified manufacturing as one of the priority sectors in its economic development strategy.
According to the administration, Pennsylvania has secured more than $41 billion in private-sector investment since Gov. Josh Shapiro took office, supporting more than 24,000 announced jobs statewide. The proposed 2026-27 state budget also calls for increasing funding for the Pennsylvania First Program by $10 million, bringing the program’s total funding to $38 million.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.