VistaTek owners pass baton to offspring
VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MINN. — Prototype molding and mold-making specialist Vista Technologies LLC is transitioning to a second generation of family ownership.
Jim and Lorinda Mishek, who founded the company in 1996 in the St. Paul, Minn., suburb of Vadnais Heights, have retired from their day-to-day responsibilities as son Dan Mishek steps in as managing director. Their daughter Jennifer Sutherland retains her post as director of operations, while son Allen Mishek leads the marketing department.
The company spent about a year transitioning to the management change, Dan Mishek said in a May 27 telephone interview. The change confirms VistaTek's long-term plans for its 30 employees as well as customers and suppliers.
The company already had developed expertise in making complex injection mold tooling for prototypes and product development, delivering finished tools in one to three weeks. Its low-volume injection molding unit includes overmolding and multishot molding. It now plans to expand its customer base beyond its regional reputation in the Midwest.
Infiltrator buys Blue Diamond pipe unit
OLD SAYBROOK, CONN. — Infiltrator Systems Inc., a manufacturer of plastic wastewater-management products, has added corrugated plastic pipe to its portfolio.
Philadelphia-based equity firm Graham Partners Inc. — Infiltrator's parent company — announced May 21 that it has acquired the corrugated plastic pipe division of Blue Diamond Industries LLC.
The move will allow Infiltrator to supply its recently acquired regional EZflow plants with high density polyethylene corrugated pipe — a key component.
Infiltrator also will continue to supply Blue Diamond's existing customers for corrugated pipe in the southeastern United States.
Lexington, Ky.-based Blue Diamond entered the corrugated HDPE pipe business in 2006 when it bought Plastic Tubing Inc.
Old Saybrook-based Infiltrator makes plastic septic leachfield chambers and tanks, EZflow drainfield systems, EZset risers and lids, and Aquaworx treatment technologies.
F&D Plastics adds twin-screw equipment
LEOMINSTER, MASS. — F&D Plastics Inc. is boosting its capacity with the addition of three twin-screw extruders to be installed at its facilities in Leominster and St-Laurent, Quebec.
The company declined to provide detailed information, but said that it will take delivery of the extruders in July.
F&D has been manufacturing color concentrates for the plastics industry since 1967. Its operations in Canada are known as FD Plastics Canada Corp.
The company said that it also will expand its U.S. lab to serve a higher demand in color matching.
Leominster-based F&D said that it supplies accounts ranging from 5 pounds to 40,000 pounds. It said that it supplies injection molders, blow molders, sheet, pipe and profile extruders, as well as blown film producers and rotational molders.
Logoplaste relocating N. American HQ
CASCAIS, PORTUGAL — Rigid plastic packaging manufacturer Logoplaste SA is moving its North American headquarters from Rome, N.Y., to the Chicago suburb of Plainfield, Ill., according to a local report.
The PlainfieldSun.com reported May 24 that Cascais-based Logoplaste also will build a 24,000-square-foot factory adjacent to a Diageo plc bottling plant in Plainfield.
Logoplaste is a major supplier of bottles to Diageo, the London-based owner of beverage brands including Guinness, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker.
According to the report, Logoplaste plans to spend $40 million in Plainfield, and to create 90 jobs over five years. Logoplaste would get a tax abatement of about $149,000 over three years on the new plant and a total abatement of about $269,000 over five years for the leased headquarters building.
Rui Abelho, Logoplaste North America managing director, was unavailable for comment.
Founded in 1976, Logoplaste manages 52 factories in 17 countries, with more than 250 machines for injection molding, stretch blow molding and extrusion molding.
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