A 57-year-old employee of Mack Molding died after a workplace accident April 30 at the injection molder's facility in Inman, S.C.
The victim, John Norris Hayes, was pronounced dead about 2 p.m. at a local hospital.
Spartanburg County officials are investigating the fatality. An autopsy was scheduled for May 1 and authorities were awaiting the results of a toxicology test, according to local press reports.
An internal probe was launched as well, Bryan Campbell, president of the southern operation of Mack Molding, said in a telephone interview.
“It's an extremely tough time,” Campbell said. “Sadly, we can confirm the accident did occur. Internal and external cooperation is ongoing. Right now the whole Mack family's thoughts and prayers are with the family, the friends and all the co-workers.”
Campbell declined further comment.
Founded in 1920, Mack Molding is a subsidiary of the privately held Mack Group, which has its headquarters in Arlington, Vt., and operates 11 facilities in five states and Mexico. Mack Group has sales of $300 million, according to its website, and about 1,800 employees.
The southern operation, which is focused on large-part molding, is comprised of a facility in Statesville, N.C., in addition to the plant in Inman, where the victim worked. The operation makes custom components and assemblies for heavy truck manufacturers and it serves the medical, industrial, energy-environment, computer, business equipment and consumer markets.
The two southern operation sites have a total of 36 presses with 14 having 1,000 to 4,000 tons of clam force and 13 being gas-assist units. The operation also has a fully automated paint system with a 1,200 foot conveyor and three robotic paint booths.