Feintool Plastic/Metal Components recently combined metal fabrication and plastic overmolding in a facility in Antioch, Tenn. The plant also does joining, assembly and testing.
The operation employs six and extends the reach of a Biberist, Switzerland, plant that employs 320, said Gabriel Venzin, Cincinnati-based vice president of operations for Feintool Plastic/Metal Components. Plastics processing makes use of glass- and mineral-reinforced engineering resins.
Parent Feintool International Holding of Lyss, Switzerland, acquired fabricated parts maker Muhlemann AG of Biberist in 1999 and began expanding plastics processing and metal stamping.
Feintool started in 1959 making fine-blanking equipment and, in 1998, went public and adopted an acquisition strategy. The Antioch facility's 70,000 square feet includes capabilities for fine-blanking and forming, in addition to plastic insert molding. Muhlemann, now operating as Feintool's plastic and metal components division, initially expanded to Antioch in May 2000.
Feintool employed 1,950 and reported sales of 471.2 million Swiss francs ($290.8 million) for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30. Of those sales, plastic and metal components accounted for 63.6 million Swiss francs ($39.2 million). Feintool trades on the Swiss stock exchange.