Milacron LLC, the manufacturer of plastics processing machines and industrial fluids, plans to open a facility in Irvine, Calif., dubbed a High Impact Technical Center, early next year.
Officials of the Batavia, Ohio-based company want to expand Milacron's reach, extend its service offerings and increase visibility throughout the West Coast when the center opens in February.
The 17,000-square-foot HIT Center will handle customer support such as aftermarket parts, technical services and retrofit and rebuilding. It will have a showroom and customer training area.
The West Coast expansion also will serve customers in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon and Washington.
Milacron has had a sales office in California, but has not operated a technical center before, according to Shawn Reilley, group vice president of sales and marketing for global plastics machinery. Reilley said the new center “allows us to connect with our customers on the West Coast more frequently. For us, it's all about increased customer service.”
Leading the new Irvine technical center will be Bill White, as operations manager, who has more than 27 years of plastics experience at several processors; and 37-year Milacron veteran Scott Merrill, the machinery maker's western regional sales manager.
California, a state with high electric rates and utility-sponsored programs to encourage energy efficiency, has been a solid market for Milacron's all-electric injection molding machines. Reilley said Milacron's technical center will handle the complete line, including large-tonnage presses.
