Absorption Corp. wants to expand presence in Italy, France, Germany

International growth attributed to weak U.S. dollar

PETER JENSEN

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Who: Absorption Corp

What it makes: The company has two manufacturing plants, one in Ferndale and another in Jesup, Ga., that primarily make small animal beddings for rodents, rabbits and lizards. This product accounts for 85 percent of the company�s business, and is sold under a variety of brand names in grocery stores, specialty pet stores and larger national chains such as PETCO and PetSmart, Vice President Shawn Dooley said.

Sales revenue: For the fiscal year that ended in January, Absorption Corp had $33 million in sales revenue, Dooley said.

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Marketplace: Dooley said Absorption Corp products can be found throughout the United States and Canada, and also in Europe and Asia. The company has been in England, Belgium and the Netherlands for five years, but wants to expand into Italy, France, Germany and other western European countries. Dooley said this desire is partly due to the weak U.S. dollar, and also because the company has such a strong market share in North America.

Work force: The Ferndale plant has 90 employees and the Jesup plant has 60.

Production process: The company takes waste fiber from wood pulp from mills in Washington and British Columbia, and re-pulps it to make it into slurry. The slurry is then pressed, shredded, packaged and sold. The end product looks like gray corn flakes, but the company also sells bedding made from a different fiber that is dyed white and six other colors, Dooley said.

Ownership: The company is owned by publicly held parent company International Absorbents. What�s noteworthy: Absorption Corp touts its products as environmentally friendly because they�re made from a waste fiber that would otherwise end up in landfills. It also reduces impacts on the environment by using renewable energy to produce the bedding, and has a closed-water system that doesn�t have discharge, Dooley said. �It�s important for us,� Dooley said. �We were green and sustainable before they were buzz words.�

Absorption Corp
6960 Salashan Parkway
Ferndale, WA
Phone: 734-7415
www.absorptioncorp.com