Weener Plastics Packaging Group of Weener, Germany, will start production June 19 at its first U.S. plant, in Wilson, N.C.
The 50,000-square-foot facility was part of Weener's acquisition of Euro-Matic Group Ltd. of South Greenford, England, in November. Euro-Matic's specialty is producing balls like those used in roll-on deodorants and playpens, and hollow plastic balls for industrial applications.
Weener (pronounced "Veener") has invested $5 million renovating the site, said Keith Stuck, co-president and director of sales and marketing, in a June 15 telephone interview. It is equipped with seven new 350-ton Demag injection molding machines, with seven more presses on order, to arrive in January.
The Demag presses will be used for molding closures, although Weener will handle some bottle and ball production at the site. The facility, which Stuck described as highly automated, initially will employ 18. At its 28-press capacity, it can employ as many as 40.
The company holds global contracts with companies like Unilever and Colgate. It is operating as Weener Plastics Inc. Jens Feierabend, also a co-president and technology director, will lead the North American operations with Stuck.
"Basically, for these large customers, you have to be close," Stuck said.
It has kept some existing blow molding machines in Wilson from Euro-Matic's operation there, while moving the majority of ball production to a facility in Mexico City, Stuck said. The Wilson plant will be making bottles at the plant for an existing European customer.
According to its Web site, Weener designs and produces packaging for body-care, cosmetics, food, and household products, and for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Its core business is manufacturing closures, dosing valves, plastic bottles, tubes and jars, as well as dosing packs and systems.