Custom injection molder Venture Plastics Inc. is boosting its ability to supply automotive markets with expansion in space and capacity.
The Newton Falls, Ohio, company has recently installed a new large-tonnage injection press for its home town facility and plans to obtain ISO-IATF 16949 certification at its El Paso, Texas, operation by the third quarter. Last year it achieved the auto-oriented ISO standard for its Newton Falls operation.
Venture took delivery of a 1,440-ton Nissei injection molding machine in December, and is now running production parts on it, said Al Schultice, Venture director of sales, in a phone interview.
"An auto program launches in July," Schultice said.
"Automotive will fill 50 percent of the capacity of the new machine."
The new press is the largest in Venture's fleet. The next largest are a 960-tonner in Newton Falls and a 720-ton machine in El Paso. The large presses spend a lot of their time molding interior and exterior auto parts and energy storage components. The new Nissei likely will make a polypropylene interior trim part for an undisclosed customer. Schultice said Venture is a Tier 2 company with business spread among Detroit's Big Three and transplant operations.
Venture also is adding 23 percent more floor space in Newton Falls with a 17,000-square-foot addition. Construction of the addition and installation of the new Nissei press will cost about $1.75 million, Schultice estimated. A new crane also will be installed as part of the project.
Schultice said Venture's growth is broad based, but automotive and energy storage components are the most active. It also molds appliance components and consumer products. He claimed Venture's engineering strengths and customer communication support the growth of new business. Other strengths include new project management, RJG scientific molding application, automation and competitive resin sourcing.
Venture President Steve Trapp noted in a news release that large tonnage press capabilities are also attracting work in the solar, rail, fuel delivery and agriculture markets.
The new Nissei is Venture's 38th press. Venture touts the machine's molding stability, quick response, easy maintenance and direct-pressure type clamping mechanism as advantages that go beyond the machine's size.
Venture, a family owned business, was founded in 1969. The company employs nearly 200 and expects last year's sales of $34.5 million to grow by more than 5 percent this year.