Jatco Inc. of Union City, Calif., began operation of a 1,500-ton press in October as part of an effort to broaden its business base.
In conjunction with adding the press, “we brought in a new customer,” Eric Appelblom. vice president of sales, said in a telephone interview.
The injection molding machine from Tederic Machinery Manufacture (China) Co. Ltd. of Hangzhou, China, is Tederic's first of this size in North America.
The Tederic is Jatco's 33rd press in Union City. The tonnage range for the others is 55-1,000 tons, mostly Toyos or Toshibas.
Appelblom sees an advantage with the larger press for expanding in its key markets for housewares and agricultural and material handling equipment.
The 102,000-square-foot Union City facility employs 130-150 depending on business volume. Jatco's plant in Greenwood, S.C., employs 25-35, operates five presses of 80-720 tons and occupies 80,000 square fee.
Appelblom said Jatco invested about $1 million for capital equipment in 2016.
Jatco installed 11 new Wittmann Battenfeld robots as replacements for automation equipment from a Japan-based manufacturer.
Jatco has annual sales in the range of $15 million to $20 million.
Jatco observed its 40th year as a business in 2016 and commemorated the anniversary with a special logo and a revamped website.