Bright Plastics Inc. is taking steps to add 48,000 square feet of production capacity by the end of the third quarter of this year, according to President Kirk Sparks.
Sparks said in a phone interview that the Greensboro, N.C., company had purchased a 108,000 square foot facility in February 2013 and has been using it for a distribution site. However, it is also part of a long-range plan for added capacity.
The company is currently assessing its equipment needs, but he noted that the new space will be best suited for higher tonnage machines.
The company already operates 31 injection molding machines ranging from 60-1,000 tons of clamping force at its main facility, which is 72,000 square feet, and also located in Greensboro. It has 4,800 square feet of Class 100,000 clean room space as well as another 4,000 square feet of white room space.
“We've really seen growth across all of our markets. We are not tied to one market,” Sparks said.
Bright's key market is medical, but it also does work for the telecommunication, recreation, consumer and packaging industries.
Sparks said that sales have grown about 48 percent overall in the last two years and that they anticipate growth of 12-15 percent this year.
He said that the growth will spur the hiring of about 18-22 more employees by the end of the year. The company has about 130 employees now.
Bright Plastics was formed by Steve Bright 26 years ago.
Sparks said that the growth has been fueled by programs that they've instituted in recent years. The company is more automated, keeps adding new equipment and spends lots of time on training. He said that one program reduced its scrap rate by 80 percent.
The company also worked with Guilford Technical Community College which customized some courses especially for Bright's employees.
Sparks said that they've improved their employees skill sets and “there is virtually no turnover.”