Currier Plastics Inc. is moving forward with plans to expand the manufacturing space at its Auburn, N.Y., facility.
Ron Ringleben, vice president of business development, said the company is growing in the medical market and a majority of the expansion will include clean room space.
The project remains in the design phase, but it is expected to be a $10 million investment during the next three years.
That figure includes two extrusion blow molding machines and an all-electric injection molding machine.
The Auburn Planning Board has given its blessings to the project, and Ringleben said there was little opposition, save for one resident who expressed concerns.
"There was just the one person and that was it," he said. "It was nothing."
During NPE2018, Currier is touting its experience as a blow molder and injection molder. The company is also adding assembly automation to its repertoire.
Working with consistently high-volume parts also proves to be a winning combination for Currier in its end markets. Offering multiple processes is also a bonus for customers.
Elizabeth Roberts, a sales, marketing and customer support specialist for Currier, noted that the company has one project that includes a small medical bottle that is blow molded. The company produces an injection molded insert and assembles the parts for the customer.
The company has tooling partnerships, though Ringleben noted it does a lot of its repairs in-house.
"We also do 3D printing in-house, which can assist with part design and quality," he added.
Going forward, Ringleben said the company hopes to double its size in the next five years.
The company is meeting its needs for skilled labor through Penn State and Penn College.
"We use tech skills to sell products, and it can be a differentiatior," Ringleben said, noting the company typically fills its labor needs, thanks in part to its location between Rochester and Syracuse.
The company has ISO 13485:2016 certification for medical device manufacturing.
