Chill-can plant production ahead of schedule

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Construction of the chill-can plant on the East Side is ahead of schedule, the developer said Tuesday.

Mitchell Joseph, head of Joseph Co. International, expects some production to begin at the site at 130 N. Lane Ave. in spring 2018.

Joseph Co. International is the creator of the world’s first self-chilling beverage can.

Joseph’s great-grandfather started and operated Star Bottling Co. from 1921 through 1970 where Joseph is now building his company’s East Coast operations. The company currently has West Coast operations in California.

“The project is way ahead of schedule,” Joseph said.

Joseph purchased eight blocks on Lane to build a new complex complete with multiple production buildings and an administrative headquarters.

Construction of the second building at the multimillion-dollar site is underway, and construction on the third building is expected to start in mid-September.

“We are changing the plan from the five buildings to possibly eight,” Joseph said.

The plant will bring at least 250 jobs to the city.

Joseph’s company has consistently received hundreds of emails and calls thanking Joseph for coming home.

“It’s just a good feeling,” Joseph said.

Joseph, a Youngstown native and Youngstown State University graduate, broke ground on the $20-million technology, can-filling and distribution center in November 2016.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Joseph credited YSU President Jim Tressel with urging him to build the new plant in the city.

Joseph’s Irvine, Calif.-based company has the trademark to the “chill can,” which allows a drink to be chilled in less than a minute by turning a knob on the can’s bottom.