Ring sites new S.D. plant near Colloid
Oakland, Tenn. - Ring Container Technologies LLC plans to open a new blow molding facility in Belle Fourche, S.D.
Ring will make containers of 2 gallons and larger at the plant, mainly for American Colloid Co. American Colloid mines bentonite clay in South Dakota and converts it into consumer products such as cat litter and into industrial products.
Ring Vice President of sales and marketing Jeff Ullrich said his company has a long-term agreement to supply American Colloid with containers. He said Ring will lease an existing building in Belle Fourche. Its multimillion-dollar investment includes an undisclosed number of extrusion blow molding lines that will process high density polyethylene. The factory will be able to run seven days a week, he said in a telephone interview.
As many as 30 positions will be created in the project, estimated South Dakota's Governors Office of Economic Development. New employees will be hired in September with production to follow shortly afterward, according to the agency.
The Oakland-based company had blow molding sales of $150 million last year.
Plastech seeks tax break on building
LANSING, MICH. - Plastech Engineered Products Inc. plans to build a new injection molding plant near Lansing to supply a nearby General Motors Corp. assembly plant.
The Dearborn, Mich.-based molder is asking the Delta Township Board of Trustees for a tax break to build a $32 million, 231,000-square-foot facility that will employ between 125 and 175 people, said Amy McEwan, director of the community's economic development group.
If approved Sept. 6, the abatement could cut Plastech's tax bill for the project by as much as 50 percent for up to 12 years.
The molder still must receive site plan approval, McEwan said, noting construction may not begin until mid-October.
Bankrupt pail molder back in business
LEOMINSTER, MASS. - U.S. Specialty Container Corp. has resumed operations about a year after its assets were bought out of bankruptcy in a sealed-bid auction
U.S. Specialty is operating in Leominster, under the same roof as the company that bought its assets, injection molder First Plastics Corp. It is molding 5-gallon pails and lids on two 750-ton injection presses and decorating the containers with a pad printer. The machinery was central to the acquired assets.
The new incarnation combines the expertise of previous management with the parent firm's experience and financial strength, U.S. Specialty business development manager Paul Schiavitti said by telephone. Its market focus will continue to be paint, plaster, sealer, oils and foodstuffs.
Exothermic buys mold supplier Ewing
KENILWORTH, N.J. - Exothermic Molding Inc. has acquired Trenton, N.J.'s Ewing Mold & Die Co.
Exothermic had tooling capabilities before the purchase, but Ewing was its primary outside supplier for molds. Ewing's equipment and staff have been incorporated into Exothermic's Kenilworth facility, said Exothermic President Paul Steck.
``We added two [computer numerically controlled] milling machines, a lathe, a welding machine, and an electric discharge machine,'' Steck said Aug. 11 by telephone. Exothermic also runs seven presses for reaction injection molding.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Steck said Exothermic spent $75,000 on renovations to its own 10,400-square-foot site, including roofing, electrical work, and new heating and cooling systems. Exothermic employs 15.
Steck said Exothermic plans to add 7,500 square feet expansion next year to accommodate additional work.
Dell, Austin Foam set up N.C. operations
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Pflugerville, Texas-based Austin Foam Plastics Inc. is leasing a 55,190-square-foot facility in Winston-Salem.
AFPI is a cushion packaging supplier to Dell Inc., which is building a manufacturing plant in the area. AFPI will invest $3 million in facility improvements and equipment and hire 30 workers, the company said in a news release.
AFPI President Tim O'Hearn would not disclose details about equipment or renovation plans.
