Sturgis Molded Products (SMP) scored a big order from football gear manufacturer Xenith LLC, which relocated the manufacturing and assembly of its products from Lowell, Mass., to Detroit.
SMP will make between 40,000 and 50,000 polycarbonate helmet shells and the injection molded clips for face masks at its recently expanded facility in Sturgis, Mich., Ben Kevern, sales account manager, said in a telephone interview following an April 28 event at the Detroit warehouse where the parts will be assembled.
“They found us,” Kevern said. “They carved out a radius around Detroit and set out on a hunt of injection molders. We ended up on their list. After touring our facility, talking with our people and seeing our product base they chose SMP as the best fit for the injection molding of their helmet shells and helmet clips.”
SMP also makes safety components for the automotive industry as well as bleacher seats and parts for the appliance industry. Along with a skilled workforce, the company had recently added a 22,000-square foot warehouse and four injection molding presses, putting it in a good position to win the Xenith job.
“We make airbag housings that protect human life and other automotive safety products, so this falls into that niche for us,” Kevern said. “Our employees really like making that type of product. They feel like they're making a difference and it allows us to have that strong emphasis on part quality because a bad part leaving our shop could compromise some safety aspects. We like having that rewarding type of product in our facility.”
