IRVINGTON, N.J. - Jersey Plastic Molders Inc. plans to spend about $500,000 this year to modernize. The Irvington-based custom injection molder recently replaced four old New Britain and Impco presses with four Van Dorn Demags, including a new 400-ton press, and may add another Van Dorn, a new 170-tonner, said Gary Rokosny, vice president of sales. The firm also added its first robot, a Conair parts picker at a press molding containers.
Rokosny said Jersey might add new ultrasonic sealing and hot-stamping equipment to keep up with customer demands. Some customers want to replace decals with multicolor, stamped decorations.
Jersey's 90,000-square-foot plant houses 27 injection presses, assembly and decorating equipment and a tool room. Press clamps range from 150-750 tons, the largest machine being capable of shooting 193 ounces. Rokosny said his firm does a little thermoset compression molding but is phasing out the business because high-heat thermoplastics are capturing more applications.
The private company celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, when it logged sales of about $8.6 million. It mainly processes polypropylene, high density polyethylene and high-impact polystyrene for housewares, hardware, games, displays and various commercial goods.
Rokosny said Jersey uses storage capacity in its four 82,000-pound resin silos to try to buffer swings in raw materials costs, which he called ``a major problem in this industry.''
