Injectronics adds packaging operations
CLINTON, MASS. - Injectronics Corp. has begun thermoforming packaging to complement its clean room injection molding operations.
``We took about 7,500 square feet of what was existing manufacturing space and closed it in with new floors, new walls, a [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] system with HEPA filters and remodeled it into Class 8 clean room space,'' said sales and marketing director John Schwab Jr.
The 10-week project, completed in March, will allow Injectronics to offer packaging, in addition to injection molding and contract manufacturing, to its medical and consumer product customers, Schwab said in a telephone interview.
He said Injectronics added a Sencorp Series 2200 machine with a maximum web of 22 inches. It incorporates a Motoman HP6 six-axis, articulating-arm robot; a closed-loop sheet temperature monitoring system; and a servodriven thermoforming machine. The setup also has an in-feed pressure box with ionized air knives to minimize potential debris.
The new machinery will handle work for three existing clients. But, Schwab added, ``[it] provides an incredible opportunity in front of us.''
Although the Clinton-based company has 30 years of molding experience, it brought in consultants to provide training on the new machinery, he said.
Injectronics now has Class 8 clean rooms - previously known as Class 100,000 - at both its Clinton and Westborough, Mass., facilities. The company was founded in 1942.
Patrick buys Adorn, boosts RV business
ELKHART, IND. - Patrick Industries Inc., a parts supplier for recreational vehicles and manufactured housing, will acquire fellow RV supplier Adorn LLC. The deal will create a company with $588 million in annual sales.
Both companies are based in Elkhart, and both produce vinyl laminated parts for cabinets and walls, as well as a variety of nonplastic parts. Adorn also manufactures countertops from cast acrylic Corian.
The companies did not disclose financial terms of the transaction, announced April 11.
Publicly traded Patrick had 2006 sales of about $348 million. ``Significant shareholder'' Tontine Capital Partners LP agreed to increase its stake and buy 980,000 shares at $11.25 each, to help finance the acquisition, according to a Patrick Industries news release.
Adorn is owned by private equity firm Linsalata Capital Partners of Mayfield Heights, Ohio.
The sale is expected to close by the end of May.
Incoe producing hot runners in China
TROY, MICH. - Hot-runner producer Incoe Corp. opened its third-largest manufacturing plant, in Shanghai, earlier this year.
The site will support double-digit sales growth in China for Troy-based Incoe.
``Over the past couple of years, [our] sales have doubled every year,'' said the company's Asia-Pacific business manager, Bob Meng.
Incoe Hotrunners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., includes a 24,750-square-foot production facility. The plant employs about 25 now, but when the plant reaches full production, the number of workers will grow to about 50, Meng said.
With the rise of injection molding in China, hot-runner demand has increased. Incoe started the facility to be closer to customers in China, Meng said. The company already operates a manufacturing plant in Singapore that regionally serves the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Before opening the Shanghai plant, Incoe maintained three sales offices in China - in Hong Kong, Dongguan and Shanghai.
The privately owned company has been operating for 50 years. It has technical support, sales and manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
SPE, PN collocate events again next year
AKRON, OHIO - The Society of Plastics Engineers and Plastics News will collocate Antec, SPE's annual technical conference, and PN's Plastics Encounter trade show, again next year. The combined event will be held May 4-8, 2008, in Milwaukee.
The first collocated Antec/Plastics Encounter is coming up in just a few weeks. It is set for May 8-10, 2007, in Cincinnati.
