Rotational molder Diversified Plastics Inc. is in the midst of a $350,000 expansion.
``We outgrew our facility,'' said Tommy Wallace, Diversified's secretary-treasurer and sales manager.
So, Diversified is building an additional plant about 21/2 miles down the road from its Latta, S.C., plant and adding equipment. Wallace said the facility, scheduled to open in early February, will make operations more efficient and help with quality control.
Diversified already has hired two new employees and Wallace expects to add at least three to five more workers over the next two years.
Diversified's existing operations are in three buildings covering a total of about 50,000 square feet, which includes a metalworking shop. The new plant will have 20,000 square feet.
Wallace expects sales to grow 5-10 percent. Diversified was No. 78 in Plastics News' 1998 survey of North American rotational molders, with sales of $2.7 million.
Currently, it employs 22, rotomolding products such as agricultural and industrial tanks, food processing containers, carts, hampers, barrels and totes. It does custom and catalogued molding mainly for the textile, institutional laundry and marine markets.