A Lincoln, Neb.-based extruder of conduit and irrigation products plans to relocate to a soon-to-be-built, larger plant in Lincoln where it will increase its staff and capacity.
Geist Plastics Inc., a division of holding company Plastics Cos. Enterprises Inc. in Lincoln, is investing about $1.7 million in a 24,000-square-foot plant where it will add at least one new extrusion line.
Geist extrudes polyethylene and PVC. The company is part of a family of plastics divisions under PCE, including injection molder HTI Plastics in Lincoln, and Brookfield, Mo.-based bottle blow molder Apex Plastics.
A fourth division is Geist Manufacturing, which makes electrical products and is a customer of its plastic product-making siblings.
``There are a lot of synergies between all four companies,'' said Paul Almburg, HTI president and group leader of the holding company's plastics division, in an Oct. 19 telephone interview.
The company has added six new workers since the start of September, and will add 15-20 more during the next year, Almburg said.
The plastics division is growing at a steady 15 percent a year, he said. The electrical division is humming along at 40 percent.
Geist Plastics extrudes PE pipe and fabricates components for massive irrigation systems for watering vast open spaces, like crop fields. The conduit is made from PVC.
``The key to our success is that we kind of look at wanting to have proprietary products for the niche markets,'' Almburg said. ``We've been affected by China just like everyone else, but we have actually grown our sales by identifying niche markets that are maybe too small for China, but real good for us.
``We focus a lot on customer service and short lead times.''