Blow Molded Specialties Inc. is expanding its capacity, taking over a nearby building to add 25,000 square feet of space for more molding and assembly.
“We acquired the building next door and we're going to connect both together. We are already in the new building doing some assembly. Everything will probably be done in 30 days,” said Michael Thompson, vice president of sales, in a telephone interview.
The Foley, Minn., company was operating out of a 60,000 square foot facility, so the combined space will boost its total to 85,000 square feet. It has about 100 employees.
President Doug von Arb said the space was needed because its assembly work has grown more than 20 percent in the past two years. The company also plans to add more molding and robotic trimming equipment.
Thompson said Blow Molded Specialties is looking to acquire two more blow molding machines by the end of the year. Currently the company runs 11 machines along with seven portable Fanuc robots that can used at different work cells.
He said the blow molders have shot sizes that range from 2 pounds to 65 pounds and are able to produce parts as large as 50 inches in diameter and up to 10 feet long.
“We are seeing a lot more opportunities that come from a switch over from rotomolding to blow molding,” Thompson said.
He said cost and the ability to make more parts faster are reasons given for the changeover.
Thompson said company sales are up about 25 percent in the fiscal year. Blow Molded Specialties expects to post 104 sales of about $15 million.
The company makes components for the recreation, automotive, lawn and garden and point-of-purchase display markets.