TWINSBURG, OHIO - Mitech Corp. plans to add capacity and plant space to keep up with the growth of its electrostatic dissipative and conductive sheet business. The Twinsburg firm is installing its second sheet extrusion line, a 36-inch used machine, and expects to buy another line soon, according to David Lally, operations manager.
``We're at the limits of our capacity,'' he said in a telephone interview.
Mitech's main product line is modified acrylic sheet sold to thermoformers to make electronic packaging.
Lally said about 70 percent of the firm's sales are to offshore firms. It had sales of $2.5 million last year.
Mitech doubled its plant space to 20,000 square feet late last year, and early this year added a captive compounding line. Lally said his company spent about $600,000 on expansion and will invest more in auxiliary equipment and another sheet line. He thinks Mitech also will build another 10,000-square-foot addition next spring.
The private, 16-employee firm introduced its electrostatic-protective sheet in early 1994. Lally said sales are exceeding expectations.
Mitech's sheet has electrostatic additives compounded in, making it a washable and reusable replacement for plastic sheet coated with electrostatic chemicals.
American Profol adds capacity for PP film
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - American Profol Inc. is expanding cast polypropylene film capacity two years after it started production at Cedar Rapids.
American Profol will begin operating a third cast PP line in January to boost capacity by about 60 percent, estimated Andrew Meyer, the company's vice president. In another year to 18 months, the firm expects to install a fourth cast PP line to more than double current capacity, which Meyer declined to disclose.
Meyer said the company's sales have grown dramatically. Its initial plan was to expand after five years of operation. He attributed the growth to cast PP quality and thickness capabilities, and a recent shortage of oriented PP film.
American Profol serves diverse markets, including photo and office products, automotive, signage and packaging. Last year it recorded sales of about $13.5 million, up from $9 million in 1993.
Meyer said American Profol is doubling manufacturing space and tripling the size of its warehouse.
He would not disclose costs or suppliers in the expansion program.
He said employment will grow to 55 from the firm's current staff of 40.
American Profol is a subsidiary of cast PP film producer Profol Kunststoffe GmbH of Halfing, Germany.
Bonar board OKs acquisition plan
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO-Packaging producer Bonar Inc. announced Aug. 30 its board of directors has approved a plan for controlling shareholder Low & Bonar plc, based in Dundee, Scotland, to acquire the 21 percent of the company it does not own already.
Shareholders of Bonar Inc., a publicly traded company headquartered in Burlington will vote on the plan sometime in mid-October.
Bonar announced the C$38-per-share (US$28.30) plan July 12.
The firm produces plastic film and bags, multiwall paper bags, folding cartons and rotomolded products at seven plants in Canada and four in the United States.
