ZEELAND, MICH. - Batts Inc., a 93-year-old company headquartered in Zeeland, has expanded its business to include custom molding. Batts, which claims to be the largest supplier of garment hangers in the world, relies heavily on the retail industry.
``With the retail business flat and sales off, the number of hangers we make has also slumped off,'' said Donald Morgan, company vice president.
Batts decided to move into the custom molding business three months ago, and sees the move as ideal to combat the cyclical hanger business. Batts has the capability to run parts in any of its 90 presses with any engineered thermoplastic material.
``We are open to anything - from agriculture to automotive - that fits our tonnage. But not small precision parts,'' Morgan said.
The machines have clamping forces of 150-500 tons.
With subsidiaries around the world and with in-house design and molding, Batts plans to enter foreign markets by shipping molds and making the products at the subsidiaries' companies.