Custom bottle blow molder Vanga Products (Plastics) Inc. is investing C$6.5 million (US$5.6 million) to expand.
The Delta, British Columbia, private firm will break ground on a new facility in late April and expects to move into it in September. The new plant in Surrey, British Columbia, at 77,000 square feet, will be more than triple the size of its current one, for which Vanga already has lined up a buyer.
Bill VanGaalen, general manager, said the new plant will streamline layout of the existing 17 production cells and the tool shop and allow room for expansion.
In a telephone interview, VanGaalen said that during the relocation, Vanga plans to add an extrusion blow molding machine and an injection blow molding machine, both for high density polyethylene container production. The company is leaning toward purchasing Asian machines.
Vanga mainly molds HDPE and PET. For PET it does not require a separate preform step, since it uses Aoki single-stage injection stretch blow molding machines.
VanGaalen said pharmaceuticals, vitamins and other nutrients are key markets for the company's product line that runs to 1-liter bottles. Most of its sales are in the local market in Vancouver, British Columbia, but it also ships across Canada and to the U.S. West Coast.
Vanga runs a complete tool shop, which is how the firm began in 1972. Since 1977 it has been a blow molder and uses its toolmaking capability only for captive projects. The shop is so busy with its own tool-related business that it sends some work out.
VanGaalen is part owner of Vanga, which employs about 50 and has annual sales of about C$7 million (US$6.1 million).