Falcone Technical Services Ltd., a Toronto company that rebuilds Bekum blow molding machines, is expanding its plant to boost production, inventory and spare parts. The firm also will increase the size of its testing center for customers to check out new equipment.
Frank Falcone, president and chief executive officer, said the firm needs to expand as it builds business in the United States.
``We just started the last two years exporting to the U.S. That's now become the focus of our business, growing in the U.S.,'' he said.
Falcone Technical Services currently owns 6,000 square feet of space in an industrial complex. The company is tearing down a wall to link its plant to the adjoining space. When the US$125,000 expansion is completed, the company will have a total of 10,000 square feet.
The family-owned company was founded in 1988. Frank Falcone's son, Tony Falcone, is vice president of engineering. Frank's wife, Anna, is the accountant.
The seven-employee company specializes in rebuilding standard Bekum ``blow and drop'' machines, including the H series.
``We basically are building a whole new machine. All we are using is the frame structure,'' Frank Falcone said.
Technicians install upgraded hydraulics, enhanced safety systems, new electronics and a company-developed programmable logic controller. The rebuilding process takes about three months.
Falcone said he wants to build a line of new blow molding machines, but the small company has kept busy rebuilding the Bekums, at a rate of about five or six a year. He thinks 2002 will be a good year for the rebuilt machines, since the firm is working on four machines right now.
