AUBURN, N.Y. (May 2, 12:35 p.m. ET) — Custom molder Currier Plastics Inc. recently invested $1.75 million in new equipment, adding three Automa blow molding machines and expanding its ability to produce higher volume and larger size containers.
Currier installed two Automa AT400D machines and an AT700D machine in the first quarter of 2012, according to molding manager Steve Valentino.
“We replaced four machines and these actually produce more than they did,” Valentino said.
The company has carefully filled out its footprint in its current facility and it is considering plans for expansion.
Project manager Steve Feaster said the new machines will produce a quick return on investment because they increase the company's ability to mold at higher cavitation.
Currier has been molding products for 30 years. The Auburn, N.Y.-based firm offers product design, injection molding, extrusion blow molding and injection stretch blow molding.
Valentino said sales increased 17 percent last year and the company expects about the same increase this year. He credited a “V-squared,” philosophy that emphasizes value and velocity — adding that Currier usually can quote a project in 48 hours.
Valentino said projects that had been made overseas but are returning to the U.S. have helped boost sales.
“I would say that we've had at least six contracts come back,” he noted.