Ikka Technology Inc., the U.S. branch of Tokyo-based Daiichi Kasei Co. Ltd., announced March 17 it will be the latest firm to open its doors in China.
The firm's 65,000-square-foot, four-story structure will have its grand opening in Shenzhen in mid-April, said Christopher Marinello, group manager of U.S. operations. He said the plant, which will employ 150-200, will operate 15 injection molding machines with clamping forces of 50-300 tons and manufacture parts for the electrical and medical segments. Marinello said the company hopes to double the number of machines at the facility within three years.
Further, Marinello said Ikka's headquarters in Villa Rica, Ga., has purchased two 400-ton Toshiba presses for about $250,000, bringing to 46 the total number of presses Ikka has in operation, with clamping forces of 25-400 tons.
Marinello said a move toward larger automotive assemblies necessitated the purchase of the machines. About 40-50 percent of Ikka's business is in the automotive sector, he said.
The firm also does work in the medical industry and wants to increase its business in that segment.
``We feel that the medical industry gives a greater opportunity for margin improvement,'' he said.
Ikka has sales of more than $150 million, according to Marinello, and operates five facilities globally, with plants in the United States, Japan and Malaysia. Ikka also has added two engineers to its staff and has installed a $1 million automated assembly machine in its Class 10,000 clean room in Villa Rica.