Companhia Providência is moving forward with a planned expansion into the U.S., the Brazilian company has announced this week. The board of directors has approved a plan to resume construction on a new production line, with a capacity of 20,000 tons, in Statesville, NC. The line is expected to begin production in the first half of 2011.

Representing an $80 million investment, the expansion was announced in mid-2008 but was delayed due to concerns over the economy.