Among captive molders, a Kodak de Mexico SA de CV division began manufacturing single-use cameras in 1998, primarily molding in-house-recycled poly- propylene for the body and virgin acrylic for the lens.
``We make six platforms here'' in Zapopan, said Felipe Rosas, molding processing engineer. ``We are the biggest recycling plant for Kodak for the single-use camera.''
Kodak regrinds the material, and the Naucalpan, Mexico, facility of Clariant (Mexico) SA de CV adds color.
Clariant returns the material to Kodak, ``and we inject it again.''
In Zapopan, the Kodak single-use camera division employs 1,800, operates 55 Milacron injection presses with 55-300 tons of clamping force and has 60,000 square feet.
Kodak has a just-in-time operation. ``This morning, we are running 45 of the 55 machines'' to match assembly requirements, Rosas said.
The Zapopan plant reported a worker turnover of 1.2 percent in 2001.
The plant also recycles polystyrene, and has Clariant repelletize polycarbonate.