IDI Composites expands globally
By Frank Esposito
PLASTICS NEWS STAFF
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 18, 2006) -- IDI Composites International, a maker of thermoset molding compounds, is expanding its global footprint, with a plant in the United Kingdom and an expanded
presence in China.
The company opened a 2,800-square-meter facility in mid-June in West Midlands, near Birmingham, England, to better serve European customers.
“This lets us grow in Europe where we have a wide customer base,” said William Funke, vice president of global sales and technology support.
He said that IDI has been in England for 12 years and the new plant replaces a couple of smaller facilities. It will produce both bulk molding compounds and sheet molding compounds.
Funke said it will also serve Egypt, the Mideast and Turkey.
He said that it has had a presence in China for nine years, starting with a site in Shenzhen, China. In the last year or so, it added another plant in Shanghai. Each is about 4,600 square meters and
in total they employ about 200.
He said IDI Composites, formerly known as Industrial Dielectrics Inc., is based in a 18,600-square-meter facility in Noblesville, Ind.
Funke said that IDI began its global push 20 years ago when it built a plant in Aguirre, Puerto Rico. It currently has a 2,800- square-meter plant there as well.
“That gave us our start,” he said, noting that IDI continues to look to help its customers globally.
Funke said that it also has a licensing agreement in Australia and a customer base in India. IDI Composites attended NPE 2006 in Chicago.
