Custom molder C&J Industries Inc. is adding three Sumitomo injection molding machines and a Stratasys 3-D printer to boost its molding capacity as well as its product development ability.
Meadville, Pa.-based C&J bought two 250-ton Sumitomo all-electric presses and a 50-ton press to expand its small- and medium-range capabilities. The additions will boost the number of C&J presses to 55, ranging from 20 tons to 720 tons of clamping force.
“We had a building expansion in 2011 and this pretty much fills out that expansion,” said Mark Fuhrman, director of sales and marketing at C& J.
The company also is boosting its design and development abilities with the addition of a Stratasys performance series Fortus 380 MC additive manufacturing printer.
C&J added 30,000 square feet of space in 2011 and has invested more than $12 million in the last five years.
Fuhrman said C&J already has an entry-level 3-D printer, but “this is a game changer for us.” He said it enables the company to make prototypes in the same material it would use in production, allowing customers to see a product right away.
C&J production manager Mike Yurkewicz said the equipment reduces customers' time to market, especially combined with the company's in-house tool shop.
The company has averaged double-digit growth across all of its market segments since 2008.
C&J was founded in 1962 and supplies injection molded components, assemblies and complete devices to five major segments. They include medical device, pharmaceutical, industrial, consumer products, and telecommunications.
In the latest Plastics News ranking, C&J lists sales of $42.2 million. It has 335 employees.