Hudson rebuilds its Mass. extrusion line
LEOMINSTER, MASS. - Hudson Color Concentrates has increased capacity by more than one-third at its Leominster plant by rebuilding a twin-screw extrusion line.
The color concentrates maker also recently wrapped up its deal to acquire Midwest Color, a concentrates maker with production in Niles, Ill., and distribution in Garza, Mexico.
Elsewhere, Hudson moved the only extrusion line it had operated in Hudson, N.H., to Leominster. The firm now operates 17 extrusion lines in Leominster. Work done to the older twin-screw line increased the site's overall capacity from 15 million pounds to more than 20 million pounds. The firm will continue to use the Hudson site for warehousing, David Boudreau, sales and marketing vice president, said by telephone.
Hudson Color Concentrates also has been adding to its sales staff in places such as Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada.
The company started 2004 with nine sales representatives, but now employs 16. Hudson Color also has hired two production employees this year and expects to hire two more by midyear. Hudson now employs about 60 at its four locations.
In its first year of operation with Midwest - which was acquired for an undisclosed price from Jordan Group, a Chicago investment firm - Hudson Color expects to post sales of between $12 million and $15 million, Boudreau said.
The firm's first-quarter sales were up 50 percent over the previous year, he added.
Hudson makes color concentrates based on nylon, polycarbonate and other commodity and engineering resins for wire and cable, film and housewares markets.
RIA: Robots continued to rebound in 2003
ANN ARBOR, MICH. - North American manufacturers ordered 19 percent more robots during 2003 than in 2002, as a rebound continued, according to the Robot Industries Association in Ann Arbor.
Factories ordered 12,367 robots, valued at $876.5 million, making 2003 the industry's best year since 2000.
The RIA only tracks sales of robots that were made in North America.
``It's encouraging to see the robotics industry approaching the figures we hit prior to the double whammy of the economic slowdown of 2001-2002 and the impact of 9-11,'' said Donald Vincent, executive vice president of the trade association.
RIA said 68 percent of the North American robot orders went to automotive manufacturing.
RIA estimates about 135,000 robots are now at work in U.S. factories, placing the United States second to Japan in total robot use.
Canterbury to boost injection molding role
ATLANTA - Canterbury Engineering Co. Inc., known for making screws and barrels for extrusion, now is focusing on marketing its injection molding screws, barrels and check valves.
The Atlanta-based company said about 25 percent of its customers do injection molding already.
Canterbury Engineering offers design, modification, manufacturing and rebuilding services, plus high-wear resistant packages for highly abrasive polymers.
The company, which plans to exhibit at trade shows this year, has signed up two manufacturers' representatives:
* Mike Cindia Sales of Wadsworth, Ohio, covers Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virgina and Pennsylvania.
* Bear Machinery Sales of Orland Park. Ill., covers Illinois and Wisconsin.
All other inquiries will be handled by Canterbury's inside sales staff.
