Hammond Manufacturing Co. plans to set up an injection molding operation in Cheektowaga, N.Y., to meet growing demand for small electronics enclosures.
The firm expects to begin leasing a 19,800-square-foot facility in May and will equip it with new injection presses and related equipment as soon as it can, according to David Williams, vice president of finance. He did not disclose equipment details or the size of the planned investment.
The company, based in Guelph, Ontario, has been running a sales and administrative office in Cheektowaga for about 30 years. It will relocate the office into the new facility.
Williams said his firm also injection molds electronics enclosures in Waterloo, Ontario.
Hammond employs more than 500 in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia. The firm, traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, had 2004 sales of C$56.6 million (US$43.6 million).
Its enclosures, molded from ABS, polycarbonate and polystyrene, are used in garage-door openers, fire-alarm covers and other small appliances. It also makes the enclosures from metal. Hammond's electrical products group includes enclosures, racks, cabinets, transformers and power bars, most of which are made of metal.
In its new location, Hammond is eligible to receive low-cost electrical power from the New York Power Authority. Local agencies also pledged to assist in the relocation and expansion. Hammond expects to hire at least 14 new workers in the first year of the new plant's operation.
