L.K. Systems Inc. has delivered its first eXcel-brand injection molding machine to a North American customer.
The Chinese-made 175-ton press incorporates North American technical requirements, was put in place at Diamond Line Inc. in Akron, Ohio, on Feb. 19 and will be operational in early March, said Michael Smith, vice president of sales and marketing for L.K. Systems in Ladera Ranch, Calif.
Diamond Line will use the press and a 315-ton eXcel servo hydraulic toggle machine, now on order, for its manufacturing of floral containers. In addition, Diamond Line is L.K. Systems' exclusive sales agent for eXcel injection molding machinery in 13 Midwest states and western Pennsylvania. Diamond Line plans to procure a 600-ton eXcel that it intends to sell. Shayne Bishop, Diamond Line vice president of operations, said the shipment, delivery and installation went smoothly.
In circumventing a U.S. logistics problem, L.K. Systems routed the machine from a factory in Ningbo, China, by ship to the port authority in Prince Rupert, British Columbia; via intermodal train to Cleveland; and by truck to Akron. A contentious labor dispute has disrupted cargo operations at U.S. West Coast ports.
Diamond Line was established in 1977, has three technical sales representatives with nearly 60 years of plastics industry experience and, in addition to manufacturing, imports containers.
L.K. Systems' parent firm, Hong Kong-based L.K. Technology Holdings Ltd., manufactures injection molding machines in Ningbo and Shenzhen, China. L.K. Systems plans to offer energy-efficient eXcel presses ranging from 90-615 tons in North America.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, publicly traded L.K. Technology Holdings sold about 3,500 plastic injection molding machines for $76 million; die-casting machine sales were $240 million.