Blow molder Lamoureux & Fils Inc. plans to use some of its recently acquired extra capacity to mold components for its new outdoor storage container line. The Magog, Quebec, firm's Desman containers are designed to match patio furniture styles for storing goods such as toys and patio and dock accessories, according to President Serge Lamoureux. Blow molded, snap-fit panels assemble into weather-resistant high density polyethylene boxes about 5 feet long and 3 feet high.
Lamoureux & Fils bought Xactics Containers Ltd. of Joliette, Quebec, on July 1 from the Guibault family and kept Xactics' blow molding assets. A few days later it sold Xactics' rotational molding equipment to Plasti-Drain Ltd. of St. Clet, Quebec.
The purchase increases his company's blow molding shot sizes to as large as 35 pounds, according to Serge Lamoureux. The previous largest shot size at Magog was 7 pounds, Lamoureux said.
Lamoureux & Fils makes a range of containers and does custom and proprietary technical blow molding.
Lamoureux & Fils was planning to expand before it bought Xactics and the purchase was an efficient way to grow, he said in a telephone interview. He predicts the acquisition will lift Lamoureux & Fils's annual sales to as much as C$18 million (US$13.5 million), vs. the C$14 million (US$10.5 million) it logged last year. Serge Lamoureux said the Joliette blow molding operation was renamed Octoplast.
Xactics's former rotomolding operation will continue as a stand-alone division of Plasti-Drain, according to Paul Thibert, general manager of the division, who worked at the Xactics's plant for several years before the purchase. It will continue to make septic tanks, double-wall containers, storage tanks and a range of other products, most of which are proprietary.
The operation continues to occupy part of the Joliette plant while Octoplast runs its equipment in another part of the facility.
The Joliette operation expands Plasti-Drain's rotomolding capacity, previously limited to one machine at St. Clet. Its main business has been extrusion of PE pipe for drainage, water, industrial and other applications.
