Paul Kemkemian is applying 36 years of engineering-design experience in launching a Glendale, Calif., injection molding firm focused on the medical market.
Kemkemian incorporated Paul K Engineering Inc. last year and serves as president. He invested about $500,000 for equipment and a clean room and intends to begin production by late May.
The company has installed four microprocessor-equipped Battenfeld injection molding machines with clamping forces of 40 tons in the Class 100,000 clean room, and two late-model presses of 80 and 15 tons in another part of the leased facility. Matsui supplied equipment for materials drying and handling, and mold-temperature controllers.
Costing $200,000 by itself, the clean room can accommodate six more presses.
Using his imagination, Kemkemian created the 1,000-square-foot clean room without visible evidence of wires, cables or pipes. Infrastructure components are housed in beamlike channels near the base of the walls.
Kemkemian envisions a market niche for small and medium-size contract manufacturers with quick turnaround and concept-to-completion capabilities. The around-the-clock, lights-out molding operation will have proprietary automated equipment for part picking and subassembly.
Beginning in 1986, Kemkemian operated the design-consulting firm PK Engineering, most recently in Baldwin Park, Calif., and since has consolidated in Glendale.
Paul K employs six, has leased 7,500 square feet since February and can access another 3,000 square feet. It aims to qualify for ISO 9000 certification by year-end.
