A Florida-based manufacturer of nylon cable ties is boosting its production capacity with the addition of new injection molding machines and cable tie molds.
Crestview, Fla.-based American Elite Molding LLC added the equipment at its 75,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility.
"As we maintain our focus on customer satisfaction, we have invested in these new machines and tools to meet growing demand," said American Elite Molding Founder and CEO Robert Sires.
According to Sires, the company added three 3,550-ton Sumitomo machines. One went into operation in August and two went online in November.
"We have an additional one due in early next year," he added, noting that once that machine is in place, the company will have 18 machines total.
In addition to AEM's plant in Crestview, Sires noted the company also molds ties in Connecticut, with an additional eight presses.
Sires added that the equipment gives AEM the capacity to produce cable ties up to 48 inches long with a tensile strnegth of 175 pounds at the facility.
"With this production capacity expansion, we are well-positioned to continue our company's growth and to deliver all of the made-in-the-USA cable tie products that our customers need, on time and at competitive prices," he said.
Sires added that the company's Crestview facility continues to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
With the added capacity, Sires noted that AEM will be hiring at least 20 additional employees to handle the additional work.
AEM marked its 20th anniversary in 2018. The company offers an extensive line of cable ties in a variety of lengths, tensile strengths, and colors, plus accessories such as mounting pads and cable clamps.
AEM had injection molding sales of $30 million in Plastics News' 2018 ranking of injection molders, up from $26 million the previous year. Primary end markets are electrical/electronics, consumer products and industrial.
The new machines will not only increase capacity, but Sires anticipates the move also will boost growth for the company and he is forecasting a positive year in 2019.
"My outlook is strong growth of 30 percent on top of the 30 percent growth this year," he concluded.