Kamco Industries Inc. plans to expand its thermoforming operations and is busy preparing its newest site in Morenci, Mich., to handle it.
The West Unity, Ohio-based company is awaiting a thermoforming machine that will be built in France, torn down and then shipped to the Morenci site, according to Bryan Barshel, Kamco's assistant vice president of accounting, human resources, environmental and health and safety.
He said Kamco expects the machine to be up and running by March. Kamco currently has two thermoforming machines at its West Unity plant, and those will be moved to Morenci when they can be done seamlessly at a later date.
The Ohio facility also has a large injection molding operation, as does Kamco's facilities in Clanton, Ala., and Bradford, Ontario.
Barshel said the company makes automotive parts for Honda Motor Co. Ltd., and with Morenci only about 20 miles from its West Unity site, it created an opportunity to expand. Kamco bought Morenci site, which formerly housed Palm Plastics Ltd.
Kamco's Ohio site does not have room for expansion, but Morenci provides the high ceilings and thicker flooring necessary for use in thermoforming.
Barshel said the expansion will not mean job losses, and that the Michigan plant will start with about 30 employees — a number that may double to 60 by the summer. Kamco worked with local and state officials in Michigan and will gain incentives for training and a tax abatement.
Kamco is a division of Tokyo-based Kumi Kasei Co. Ltd.