Hong Kong-based processor Hayco is contributing $500,000 worth of equipment to a training program that will support its new factory in the Dominican Republic.
Last month, Hayco agreed to donate a 60-ton Wittmann Battenfeld injection molding machine, a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine, and an electronic discharge machine (EDM) to a program run by the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center that will train apprentices in mold making and plastics processing.
Hayco is investing $50 million to build an injection molding, assembly and packaging plant on a 49,000-square-meter site in the Las Américas Industrial Free Zone Park in Santo Domingo. The plant, which is slated to begin production next year, will slash shipping times to North American and European customers. When fully operational, the plant will employ 1,500 or more workers.
“The new plant will not only provide much-needed employment, it will also bring exciting new skills to the Dominican Republic,” said Hayco founder and Chairman Donald Hay. “The new plant will make the country one of the leading plastic injection molding centers in the Caribbean and Latin America.”
Vienna-based Wittmann Group will provide training for the apprenticeship program.
Hayco produces fast-moving consumer goods such as brushes, mops, cleaning supplies and beauty supplies for multinational corporations such as Wal-Mart, Target, Clorox and OXO. Procter & Gamble will be the first client of Hayco's new factory. Last year, Hayco's three factories in Shenzhen, China shipped 200 million products to 40 countries.