ZAPOPAN, MEXICO (April 29, 10 a.m. EDT) — 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.