(Danville, Va.) — Governor Ralph Northam announced Monday that Essel Propack will invest $31.2 million to double its manufacturing capacity in Danville. The expansion will mean 45 new jobs.

Northam said Virginia successfully competed with Brazil and Argentina for this project.

Essel Propack is a publicly-held company headquartered in Mumbai, India. Founded in 1982, the company produces a wide range of multilayer collapsible tubes and laminates used for packaging in personal care, food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications.

Essel Propack employs over 2,850 employees worldwide, including 252 at its only U.S. manufacturing operation in Danville. The expansion will allow the company to double production at the Danville facility through the introduction of new Super High-Output tubes (SHOT) technology.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Danville and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to secure the investment opportunity for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $150,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the City of Danville with the expansion. Other incentives were provided through the Virginia Tobacco Commission and a performance-based grant from the governor’s office.