BROOKFIELD, MO. (Aug. 7, 2:10 p.m. ET) — Blow molder Apex Plastics is looking to boost output and productivity by investing in new machinery and equipment.
The company recently purchased a Bekum H-155 dual-station blow molding machine, along with downstream equipment — a servo takeaway system from MTM Systems, a deflash unit, trimmer, leak detector, and material handling equipment — in total, an approximately $1 million investment, said Damon Neff, division president.
The investment will improve capacity and efficiency, opening up some new opportunities for the Brookfield, Mo.,-based company, Neff said by phone.
The new machine features higher cavitations – up to eight – and allows the plant to make larger containers. The new downstream equipment will make the company better equipped to mold handleware, he said.
Apex specializes in short-to-medium runs of custom or proprietary bottles and containers, including those in specialty shapes and colors. It serves customers in various markets, mainly home and beauty, automotive, agriculture and animal health products.
The company plans to further increase capacity by replacing all of its older machines with similar Bekum H-series blow molders, Neff said.
Apex currently has 35 employees, runs 11 machines and has annual sales of about $4 million.
It is a division of PCE Inc., a private holding company based in Lincoln, Neb.
