Schertz just scored a sizeable win on the Austin–San Antonio corridor: British plastics manufacturer RGE Group is planting its first American flag with a 27,000-square-foot factory along Interstate 35, less than 10 miles from downtown San Antonio.
The family-owned company plans to have the plant up and running by Sept. 3, 2026. RGE says the site will start with about 50 employees, focus on serving North American customers and cut the firm’s exposure to import tariffs in the process.
In a company release, RGE said the Schertz facility will be equipped with advanced injection-molding machines and room to expand production as orders climb, as reported by the San Antonio Report. CEO Dan Leach told reporters that tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration sped up the decision to build in the United States. The company also expects to use a mix of virgin and recycled plastics at the new plant and to hire roughly 50 workers at launch.
RGE was founded in Cambridgeshire more than 60 years ago and specializes in plastic injection molding for material-handling products, office furniture parts and other components. The group operates several sites in the United Kingdom and runs overseas plants in China and Lithuania, according to Interplas Insights. Across its European operations, the company has already shifted some product lines toward greater use of recycled material.
Why Schertz Ended Up On The Map
So why Schertz and not a bigger, flashier name on the Texas map? Location and logistics, according to RGE’s chief financial officer, Emma Leach. She cited the city’s spot in the Austin–San Antonio corridor, easy access to Interstate 35, a competitive local workforce and help from regional partners as reasons the company zeroed in on the site, the San Antonio Report noted.
RGE also pointed to proximity to Austin as a plus, since that makes flight connections to the United Kingdom easier for business travel and logistics. In other words, less time in airports, more time making plastic parts.
Tariffs Are Quietly Redrawing The Factory Map
RGE’s Texas move fits into a broader pattern of United Kingdom manufacturers boosting their American footprint after recent tariff moves. One example often cited by industry watchers is JCB, which revised its Texas investment plans and expanded capacity in San Antonio once tariffs hit, a shift tracked by trade publications that have tied it to a broader reshoring wave. Pit & Quarry covered JCB’s decision as part of that trend.
RGE says it plans to work with colleges in Austin and San Antonio to recruit engineers and toolmakers, treating the corridor’s schools as a key talent pipeline. Company leaders hope the Schertz plant can grow beyond the initial 50 roles over three to five years if demand cooperates.
Local economic-development officials have welcomed the project as another sign that the stretch between Austin and San Antonio is becoming a magnet for manufacturing tied into regional supply chains. RGE has also indicated it will seek partnerships with area recyclers to source recycled pellets for some products, pitching that approach as both a cost saver and an environmental plus.
