Portola Packaging Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based blow molder, is consolidating its mold-making operations into its 60,000-square-foot site in New Castle, Pa.
Portola Allied Tool, Portola Dairy Fabrication, Portola Technical Service and the reciprocating screw machine business now will be lumped under the name Portola Blow Mold Technologies, said PBMT President Bruce Gallop.
PDF, PTS and RSM all are being transferred from Canadian blow molding plants that will discontinue their tooling operations but continue their manufacturing.
Portola Allied Tool will move from its Michigan Center, Mich., site. That plant, which Portola leased, will close.
The 30 employees from the Michigan plant have been offered jobs in New Castle, and no additional hiring will occur until the toolmakers have decided whether to move.
``The reason for the consolidation is so we can expand,'' said Gallop in an Aug. 4 telephone interview.
He added that, while there are no plans for brick-and-mortar expansion, Portola probably will be renovating and importing new tooling technology.
Gallop also was uncertain about the final cost of the consolidation because the budget still requires tinkering.
``We're still playing it by ear,'' he said.