Nypro is 1st on block with Elion 800 press
FITCHBURG, MASS. - Wearing the corporate blue of Nypro Inc. at MassPlastics 2005 in Fitchburg, Netstal Machinery Inc.'s first all-electric Elion injection molding machine sold in the United States displayed its new home.
The 88-ton Elion 800 press is bound for Nypro's headquarters in Clinton Mass., where it will be tested for numerous projects, said Nypro spokesman Al Cotton.
Cotton said Netstal is Nypro's main machinery supplier in North and South America and Europe.
The machine's mold-closing units are based on a five-point, toggle-lever mechanism, and it has a closed-loop lubrication system.
``What makes this unique is that it has no belts and no ball screws to move the drive and gear,'' said Michael Sansoucy, key accounts manager for Netstal of Devens, Mass.
The Elion line first was exhibited at the K show last year in Germany.
Sansoucy said the machine can be used in a clean room for high-speed, tight-tolerance molding.
Management buying Guardian Española
MONTREAL - Alcan Inc. has agreed to sell one of its Spanish flexible packaging businesses, Guardian Española SA, to its managers.
The small, Vitoria, Spain-based subsidiary, which employs 28, also produces promotional items such as rub-on tattoos. In 2004, Guardian recorded annual sales of 5 million euros ($6.7 million).
``To successfully grow our packaging business, we must implement a selective approach in our investment strategy. Guardian's range of products no longer matched our current packaging portfolio,'' said Alcan Packaging President and Chief Executive Officer Christel Bories.
Terms were not disclosed. Alcan Packaging still employs more than 800 at four plants in Spain. Parent company Alcan Inc. is based in Montreal.
JCI adds 500 jobs, manufacturing space
PLYMOUTH, MICH. - Auto supplier Johnson Controls Inc. has added 500 jobs and more than 150,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its Cottondale, Ala., plant to keep up with new business in the region.
The company has not added any injection molding to the plant, but has added assembly lines for plastics-intensive interior components such as door panels, quarter trim and floor consoles, said JCI spokesman Bill Dawson.
The new work covers additional contracts for DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes Benz R-Class sports tourers produced in Vance, Ala. JCI already produced components for the Mercedes M-Class vehicles made there.
JCI, whose automotive unit is based in Plymouth, ships injection molded components from other facilities to Cottondale, where they are assembled for Mercedes on a ``just-in-time'' basis.
The company completed the expansion in Alabama to 320,000 square feet from 168,000 square feet earlier this year, in time to launch production for the 2006 model.
Granite purchases 3 electric presses
LONDONDERRY, N.H. - Installing three all-electric Nissei injection molding machines is the latest step in a $1 million investment Granite State Plastics Inc. has made in new machinery during the past six months.
President John Callanan said sales at the Londonderry custom injection molder are up 37 percent this year compared with a year ago, and the company is growing in all areas. Granite does work in the automotive, appliance, electronics, military and recreational sectors.
The new presses have clamping forces of 88, 121 and 309 tons. The company now has 14 presses of 88-400 tons and employs 35 at its 19,000-square-foot facility. Granite has become more automated by adding auxiliary equipment, robotics and a cavity-pressure monitoring system in the new machines, Callanan said. The firm has added sales staff and an engineering department to do part design.
The firm was founded in 1969. Callanan bought into the company in October 2003 and now owns it along with a private equity group. Granite operates 24 hours a day, six days a week and is ISO 9001:2000 certified.
