Moeller expanding warehouse space
SPARTA, TENN. — Rotational and injection molder Moeller is adding 88,000 square feet to its 250,000-square-foot facility in Sparta.
The additional warehouse space will be completed in September. The company plans to add 30 employees to its 180 workers, according to a company spokesman.
The Sparta-based company has nine rotational molding machines for its two facilities: The Sparta plant has seven, and the Lebanon, Mo., plant has two.
The cost of the expansion was undisclosed.
Moeller, which molds low density polyethylene containers for agricultural and industrial uses, had 1996 sales of $20.6 million and rotational molding sales of $18.2 million.
Magnaform Plastics moves to new plant
ELKHART, IND. — Custom rotational molder Magnaform Plastics Inc. of Elkhart moved to a new plant in Elkhart in July.
The new facility, with 41,000 square feet, almost doubles the company's former size, according to a company spokesman.
Magnaform, which operates just one rotational molding machine, plans to add one more, at a cost of about $275,000, the spokesman said. Moving the old machine to the new facility cost the company about $10,000. He would not disclose how much Magnaform invested in the new plant.
The company needed the extra space and plans to hire more employees, the spokesman said.
Magnaform has annual sales of $3.3 million. The firm rotomolds products such as recreational vehicle holding tanks and reusable pallets from high density polyethylene and low density PE.
It also offers part design and assembly.
Nortco boosting welding capability
EDMONTON, ALBERTA — Nortco Plastics Inc. is expanding the welding area of its Edmonton headquarters facility by 1,200 square feet.
The expansion, which will cost about $100,000, will be completed by the end of August, according to a company spokesman.
Nortco operates five rotational molding machines at Edmonton, its only plant.
The company manufactures mostly proprietary goods from low density polyethylene, including storage tanks for chemicals and water.
Nortco has annual sales of $1.15 million.
Ace Roto-Mold adds space, equipment
HOSPERS, IOWA — Ace Roto-Mold Manufacturing Inc. of Hospers has expanded its facility with an additional 16,000 square feet of space. It would not disclose the plant's total square footage.
The company, which molds storage tanks and flotation drums among other products, added a rotomolding machine at a cost of $350,000, said an Ace spokesman. The company's 13 rotomolding machines process linear low density polyethylene, high density PE, nylon and PVC. It also runs seven injection presses.
To accommodate the new rotomolding machine, Ace hired 10 employees, boosting its work force to 160. The firm has sales of about $15.5 million a year.
Telcom rebuilding damaged facility
WAKEFIELD, MASS. — Telcom USA Inc. of Wakefield is rebuilding its 80,000-square-foot facility in Lawrence, Mass.
According to President Daniele La Posta, the old facility's roof collapsed in a severe rainstorm last fall when the gutters backed up. The company had just bought the facility when the accident happened. No one was hurt.
Telcom expects the plant to be repaired and fully operational by the end of September.
When completed, the building will allow space for additional machines for a possible expansion. La Posta did not disclose details.
The company has been running out of the unfinished facility for a couple months.
Telcom has 20 rotational molding employees, annual sales of $1 million and serves the lawn and garden market.
Mold maker upgrades machines' efficiency
AKRON, OHIO — Rotocast Technologies Inc. of Akron is expanding to meet an expected 60 percent growth in sales.
Rotocast, which supplies aluminum molds for rotational molders, claims to have 26 new customers this year. The company, which employs 25, plans to hire more workers, said President Edward Kissel.
The company is making its machines more efficient with in-line flow and upgrades, Kissel said.
Kissel would not disclose Rotocast's sales or the cost of the expansion.