Universal Plastic Mold Inc. in Baldwin Park, Calif., recently installed another Engle injection molding press with 2,000 tons of clamping force. The press, with shot sizes of 420 and 600 ounces, is the second the company has purchased during the past 18 months.
``Demand has been so high for the larger tonnage machines that we were forced to get this one and increase our capacity,'' said F. Donald Ashleigh, vice president of sales.
The company also added a new Cincinnati Milacron injection press with 700 tons of clamping force, and plans to add a 1,500-ton press in the near future. UPM operates 22 presses with clamping forces of 500-2,000 tons, with one 265-ton machine for smaller components.
UPM expanded its manufac-turing area from 75,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet to accommodate the additions and future growth.
Ashleigh said UPM also purchased three acres adjacent to its site to use as outdoor storage for many of the large parts it molds for the housewares and patio furniture industry.
``With California weather like it is, we're able to utilize outdoor storage space,'' said Ashleigh.
Parts are polybagged, then shrink-wrapped before storage and shipment.
Many of the products UPM molds go directly to the warehouse distribution center for major retailers.
In addition to the outdoor furniture and housewares industries, UPM serves the consumer electronics, projection television and exercise equipment industries.
UPM offers mold maintenance and repair, a variety of secondary operations and complete assembly and packaging services. It employs 140.
