Custom injection molder Aspen Engineered Products LLC has moved 24 miles, added equipment and obtained a significant safety-syringe job.
Aspen leased 22,000 square feet in Vista. Infrastructure improvements cost about $650,000 and included creation of a 6,000-square-foot Class 100,000 clean room.
Aspen, which started in Poway, Calif., in 1997, adopted an around-the-clock schedule at the new plant in mid-November, said Bill Polley, Aspen president and chief operating officer. Aspen focuses on molding, assembly and secondary operations, particularly for makers of medical devices and biotechnology products.
Aspen acquired an all-electric 110-ton Toshiba injection molding machine in June. Within the clean room, the firm operates 10 presses of 28-165 tons, including the high-speed Toshiba and seven other all-electrics.
Recently, a safety-syringe manufacturer awarded Aspen a three-year contract to mold, assemble, package and deliver product to a supplier of sterilization services.
Aspen employs 28 and anticipates hiring 14 more during scale-up for the syringe production beginning in early 2003, Polley said.
Aspen sales totaled $1.8 million for 2001 and are projected at $2.6 million for 2002. The firm is ISO 9002 certified. A private investment firm owns Aspen.
