CHICAGO (June 21, 3:10 p.m. EDT) — Injection molder Erie Plastics Co. is starting a small manufacturing operation in Hungary to serve the beverage market.
Erie will have four to six machines in an existing plant of Loranger Manufacturing Corp., an injection molder based in Warren, Pa., said Hoop Roche, president and chief executive officer of Corry-based Erie Plastics.
The companies do not compete because Erie makes packaging and Loranger molds mainly in automotive and electronics, he said.
The firms may work together on projects but are not forming a separate company, Roche said. Erie will be producing there by the end of the summer on Loranger machines and will move its own equipment in by year-end, he said.
Erie's presses will range from 300-500 tons.
"I tried to dodge the global thing as long as I could," said Roche, who disclosed the investment during a June 20 speech at an economic development forum at NPE 2000, sponsored by the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.
"Our customers told us they can't wait," he said. "We are disqualified from bidding unless we have global capability."
Erie is not ruling out getting its own plant, in time, he said. Loranger's plant is in Szekesfehervar, just outside of Budapest.
He also said the company is looking for a partner for a Mexican facility.
Loranger has a molding facility that is about 80,000 square feet with about 24 presses.
