CHICAGO — Prototype molder and toolmaker Arrk Product Development Group has purchased PTS Europe Ltd., continuing its expansion in Europe.
PTS, based in Paignton, England, employs 25. The company designs and makes molds and does injection molding.
Terms were not disclosed. San Diego-based Arrk announced the acquisition during the National Design Engineering show, held March 5-8 in Chicago.
PTS Europe specializes in multicavity molds, including hot-runner systems for cosmetic packaging, electrical and automotive markets. The company also builds two-shot molds, including automatic unscrewing molds, molds with air-assisted ejection and two-shot hot-runner feed systems.
Arrk officials were unable to provide the number of injection presses PTS runs.
Tony Moran, vice president of Arrk Product Development Group, said PTS will allow Arrk to ship parts and molds faster to European customers.
Arrk Product Development is a subsidiary of Arrk Corp., based in Osaka, Japan. Arrk already owned two other plants in the United Kingdom, in Gloucester and Thornaby.
The company claims to be the largest rapid prototyping company in the United States, Japan and Europe.
In January, Arrk Corp. announced it had purchased 40 percent of a Tokyo-based injection molding company, Hiraiseimitsu Corp. The firm, known as Sol-Plas, employs 275 in Japan, Thailand and Mexico.
