ROLLA, Missouri -- Denmark-based Brodrene Hartmann A/S says it will break ground on and expand the food packaging manufacturer's new facility in Rolla, Missouri, marking the company's first location in the United States.

Hartmann's $30 million-project is expected to create at least 50 new jobs for the area, which the company expects to fill by the start of 2017.

Hartmann will add 20,000 sq. ft. to an existing facility in Rolla, bringing its total square footage to 354,000 sq. ft. and representing the initial steps that will soon create dozens of new jobs in the area. The Rolla facility will produce sustainably-made, molded-fiber egg cartons for the U.S. market. Cartons will be made of 100% recycled newspaper sourced from the Midwest and distributed nationally.

"Our current activities in Brantford, Canada, have contributed significantly to Hartmann's growth and profitability in recent years, and with a new factory in Rolla, Missouri, we want to continue positive development," said Ulrick Kolding-Hartvig, CEO of Brodrene Hartmann, Denmark headquarters. "By increasing production capacity and presence in North America, we will gain access to a larger share of the market and have a solid foundation for expanding the business."

The company anticipates future growth at its new Rolla location with the potential of doubling its investment in the next five to seven years. Once reaching optimal production, the company expects to recycle 25,000 to 30,000 tons of post- consumer paper per year at the Rolla facility to produce fiber cartons.

Danish company Brodrene Hartmann is the world's leading manufacturer of molded-fiber egg packaging and one of the world's largest manufacturers of machinery for producing molded-fiber packaging.