Custom molder Cortland Plastics International LLC is adding its 12th blow molding machine in November to keep pace with its continuing growth.
The Cortland, N.Y., company recorded 14 percent growth in sales last year, according to controller Kay Breed, and is working to keep ahead of the curve for both existing and new customers. It has new business in the food industry, including significant new volume for condiment bottles ranging from 8 to 20 ounces.
Cortland also is seeing a need for more syrup container bottles and a growth in lawn and garden products.
The new continuous shuttle machine is made by Rocheleau Tool and Die and will be customized with deflashing, leak detection and vision inspection systems.
“We're totally booked at this point. Even with the 12th machine, we will probably at 80 to 85 percent capacity,” she said.
Breed said that the new machine required some reconfiguration of the manufacturing area and moving about four machines, but gives them more versatility. Cortland produces containers from a half an ounce to five liters using materials such as low density polyethylene, medium density PE, high density PE and polypropylene.
She said the company deals with a wide range of industries, and “that's why we needed a new machine — we wanted to make sure that we have the right mix of machines.”
Cortland has kept up with up with its customers by adding machinery each year. It has purchased four new blow molding machines over the last three years. It has 55 employees at its climate-controlled 55,000-square-foot facility.
The company started producing containers in March 2007. In 2012, it completed a 25,000 square foot addition that nearly doubled the size of its plant.
Cortland had sales of $10 million according to the Plastics News 2014 survey.
