Teknor Apex is a manufacturer of PVC and vinyl materials that sits in the middle of Jamestown between Deep River and Hood Container. Formerly known as “Viking Polymers,” a tributary next to the building flows to Deep River.
In September 2024, testing by the City of High Point showed PFAS in Teknor Apex’s pretreated wastewater: PFHxA 7.84 ppt (parts per trillion), PFBS 3.68 ppt, PFOS 4.60 ppt and PFOSA 6.82 ppt. Also present in Teknor Apex’s wastewater: antimony, arsenic, cyanide, lead and zinc.
In April 2025, Teknor Apex was found to be in noncompliance with a “general permit” it holds as a “No Exposure”company. This exempts it from having to hold an NPDES stormwater permit, which would make it subject to more stringent monitoring and pollution limits.
PFAS in wastewater and stormwater runoff contradicts the principle of “No Exposure,” which is to prevent any industrial materials or activities from contacting stormwater and water supply waterways.
Under the U.S. Clean Water Act, falsely certifying “No Exposure” (or failing to maintain the “No Exposure” condition after initial approval was granted), is supposed to lead to significant penalties. The NCDEQ inspector told Teknor Apex to schedule a reinspection once the “corrective actions” have been completed.
Jamestown has stormwater management authority over Teknor Apex, along with Univar, Hood Container and Oakdale Mill.
As an NPDES MS4 permit holder, “Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination” is one of six Minimum Control Measures the town is required to enforce, mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the NC Department of Environmental Quality.
Inquiries may be directed to NPDES director Isaiah Reed at isaiah.reed@deq.nc.gov.
LINK TO HISTORICAL FILE:
In this 2014 article, Louis Cappucci, Teknor Apex’s vice president and head of its vinyl division, said the acquisition of Viking Polymers in Jamestown added to the company’s “rigid PVC capabilities and represents an extension of its product portfolio into weather-able cap stocks, CPVC compounds and other specialties for the fast-growing building and construction market.”
A 2014 Triad Business Journal article describes the company as a “producer of thermoplastic compounds for a variety of materials.” Other marketing and news items describe the company as a manufacturer of PVC building materials. PVC is a source of PFAS.
