Updated on August 24, 2026 • 3 min read
Fibrosan has revised plans for its new fiberglass manufacturing facility in Cassopolis, Michigan, adding a regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) in response to community concerns over potential air emissions.
The company broke ground on the plant at Cassopolis’ SMART Park in late June. Since then, local residents have raised questions about the environmental and health impacts associated with the planned fiberglass manufacturing operation.
The Village of Cassopolis announced the design change on Tuesday, saying the additional emissions-control equipment represents a voluntary step by Fibrosan beyond requirements identified to date.
RTO Added to Control Air Emissions
A regenerative thermal oxidizer is an industrial air-pollution control system used to destroy volatile organic compounds and other combustible pollutants in process exhaust.
The system works by heating contaminated exhaust gases to a sufficiently high temperature to oxidize targeted compounds before releasing the treated gas.
Heat generated during this process is recovered and reused within the system, which can improve thermal efficiency compared with simpler oxidation systems.
For fiberglass and composites manufacturing operations that use resin systems or coatings capable of producing volatile emissions, this type of equipment can form part of a broader emissions-control strategy.
Fibrosan’s exact future production processes and the pollutants the RTO will be designed to control were not detailed in the supplied announcement.
Community Concerns Prompt Design Change
The decision follows growing local scrutiny of the Cassopolis project.
Residents have expressed concerns about possible environmental and health effects from the factory, prompting public discussion around the facility and other industrial development planned in the area.
According to the Village of Cassopolis, an RTO had not previously been required for the project.
However, the municipality said Fibrosan chose to incorporate the technology into the final facility design as an additional environmental-control measure.
The village described the decision as evidence that the company was responding directly to community concerns and making a long-term investment in emissions management.
Final Design Still Requires Regulatory Review
The addition of the RTO does not mean the facility’s final environmental design has already been approved.
The completed plans still need to be reviewed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).
That review will be important in determining whether the proposed manufacturing processes and emissions-control systems satisfy applicable state requirements.
Until that process is completed, the exact regulatory conditions governing the facility remain subject to approval.
Fiberglass Manufacturing Faces Greater Environmental Scrutiny
The Cassopolis project highlights how environmental-control systems are becoming an increasingly visible part of new composites manufacturing investments.
Fiberglass production and downstream composite processing can involve energy-intensive equipment, resin chemistry, coatings and other operations that may require management of air emissions depending on the specific process.
For manufacturers, addressing these issues during facility design can reduce the risk of later retrofits while also providing clearer information to surrounding communities.
Fibrosan’s decision to add an RTO before the plant’s final design is approved therefore represents both an engineering change and a response to local stakeholder concerns.
The next milestone will be EGLE’s review of the final facility design.
Bruce Zhou is the Founder of Jota Machinery, where he leads the development of equipment for flexible packaging and advanced composite materials. With experience in composite processing since 2011, his work is centered on practical engineering, product reliability, and building long-term value for manufacturing customers worldwide.
About Bruce Zhou