Roush expanding beyond automotive
LIVONIA, MICH. — Auto supplier Roush Enterprises Inc. has expanded its business reach into the medical field by buying the assets of Nypro Inc.'s life-sciences division.
Livonia-based Roush expects to use the design, prototyping, engineering and manufacturing capabilities first created for the auto industry within its new products.
``While people traditionally view Roush as an automotive supplier, our expansion into the life-sciences market is actually a very natural extension of our existing product development capabilities,'' said Evan Lyall, chief executive officer, in a news release.
Roush will use molding and development operations in its existing Livonia manufacturing campus for its new products, and will create an office near Boston for the life-sciences unit. It also hired Thomas Taylor as president of Roush Life Sciences.
Nypro, based in Clinton, Mass., developed its proprietary line of laboratory equipment under the life-sciences unit, but decided that full production did not fit into its core business line, said spokesman Al Cotton.
Kautex Textron to shutter plant in Ohio
WILMINGTON, OHIO — Textron Inc. will shutter its Kautex Textron plant in Wilmington, ending 160 jobs. The company blamed slowing economic conditions in an Oct. 27 notice filed with the state of Ohio.
The plant makes auto fuel-filling tubes used in Kautex Textron's fuel systems. Textron, based in Providence, R.I., told the state it would begin laying off employees by Dec. 31 and expects to end operations by June 30.
Textron's Bonn, Germany-based Kautex Textron fuel-tank unit also makes filling tubes at its Lavonia, Ga., plant and has five other facilities in North America.
Chevron moving PE tech center to Okla.
ORANGE, TEXAS — Damage caused by Hurricane Ike is leading Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP to relocate a polyethylene technology center from Orange to Bartlesville, Okla.
The move ``had been considered for some time,'' according to Chevron Phillips spokesman Brian Cain, but was confirmed after Ike blew through the Texas coast in mid-September, knocking out production at numerous petrochemical plants.
Cain would not provide details of damage to the Orange site, which produces high density PE, but said that full production would resume next month.
The tech center move will affect about 20 employees, most of whom are expected to make the move from Orange to Bartlesville. The relocation is expected to be completed by spring 2009.
Work done at the Orange tech center focused on technical service for PE film and coatings. An existing tech center in Bartlesville works with PE molding and durables.
Chevron Phillips Chemical, based in The Woodlands, Texas, ranks as North America's largest HDPE supplier, based on estimated 2008 sales, with a market share of 20 percent. The firm also holds market shares of 6 percent in North America LDPE and of 4 percent in North American LLDPE.
Caldwell combining two factories in Ky.
SHIVELY, KY. — Caldwell Industries Inc. plans to close its Auburn, Ky., facility by January and consolidate operations at its Shively headquarters, which is undergoing a major expansion.
The Auburn and Shively plants are about 135 miles apart. Some of the 35 Auburn employees, particularly those with technical skills, may have opportunities to relocate with the business, said President Ed Sitzler.
Caldwell would like to find a tenant for, or sell, the 40,000-square-foot Auburn site, which includes two connected additions.
Once the Shively expansion is completed, Caldwell will move three extrusion machines for sheet and profile production from Auburn, along with die-cutting equipment.
In Shively, Caldwell employs 120, operates 16 injection molding presses with 85-550 tons of clamping force and occupies 25,000 square feet with another 37,500 square feet becoming available soon.
Caldwell had sales of about $13 million for the fiscal year ended April 30 and is coping with the softening economy.
For automotive manufacturers, Caldwell molds components including external light housings and covers.