Matrix Tooling Inc. plans to add more custom molding services to its main business of mold design and building.
The Wood Dale, Ill., toolmaker spent about $500,000 in the past year to add three Toshiba presses with clamping forces of 60-190 tons, said Matrix President Paul Ziegenhorn. The firm is considering adding a 300-tonner, he said.
Matrix has begun doing initial test runs of up to 500,000 parts for original equipment manufacturers in the auto, consumer products, medical and telecommunications industries. Matrix is proving molds in such runs.
It also aims this year to do full production runs of as many as 20 million parts, but Ziegenhorn could provide no details on timing or customers.
Matrix boosted its in-house inspection capability with the recent addition of a computerized optical inspection system for molds and molded parts.
The firm moved to its current, 18,000-square-foot facility a few years ago and has invested more than $1.5 million in equipment.
Ziegenhorn said he and two brothers own the business, which they founded in 1978. It employs about 40 and runs two shifts. The firm builds molds for presses as large as 500 tons.