A new injection molder, 618 Plastics, is starting business in Salem, Ill., with a new 35,000-square-foot facility currently under construction.
The multi-million-dollar investment includes five molding machines ranging from 250 tons to 720 tons, which are ordered and expected to be delivered when the building is finished this summer, Don Hall, president and director of operations at 618 Plastics, told Plastics News in an interview.
Hall, who's spent 35 years working in the plastics industry, including 30 years in the molding department of North American Lighting in Salem, said he sees "good opportunity" for molding demand in southern Illinois, where the area code is 618.
Starting as an operator, Hall worked his way up to manage the molding department, he said. Hall also worked as vice president of engineering at Par4 Plastics in Kentucky.
"A lot of [North American Lighting's] suppliers are miles and miles away," Hall said. "[Potential customers] have been very receptive as far as the new building and the location. … I don't have a lot of concerns that we'll be able to fill up these first five machines fairly quickly."
The new plant has plenty of space for scaling up if customers come to 618 with more work, Hall added. "If we need five more machines, we'll buy five more machines."
So far, 618 has met with six potential customers, he said.
Aaron Robb, 618 Plastics' CEO and founder, also owns Aaron Robb Trucking and Salem Industrial Enterprises, a commercial real estate development company.
"A goal of mine was to come out with the best and not buy used equipment and not buy a mediocre drying system," Robb said. "We'll have the infrastructure to exceed every expectation [customers] might have with the work that they're allowing us to take on.
"Long term, we feel like [our investments] speak volumes of how we will succeed," he said, adding that those investments include "paying the wages to find the right people to help us grow."
"I'm excited to put together a team to bring this new company to life," Robb said in a statement.
618 expects to hire 10 to 20 new employees by the end of 2025, including a production supervisor, operators and technicians, material handlers and a maintenance supervisor. It will begin accepting applications in June or July, depending on its business needs, the statement said.
"With [Hall's] expertise, we really know where to pinpoint things that we can do right out of the gate that some of these companies will be looking for," Robb said. "We feel like we're in a good location … with North American Lighting being so close, but even some of the bigger car manufacturers over in Indiana."
"I always … wanted to own my own molding shop, and to be able to do things the way I want to do," Hall said. "Aaron's given me the opportunity to do that with him.
"One of the big things I'm excited about in this plant is some of the drying systems," Hall added. "We're going to be putting in place and some fail safes, making sure we're running the right plastics. We went with some different options on molding machines, as far as magnetic and quick change."
"I am looking forward to this opportunity with [Robb] to build a great company here," Hall said in the statement. "With Aaron's drive and ambition for new business, and my knowledge and contacts within the injection molding and plastics industry, I think that we can build something that will have a very positive impact to the area for many years to come."
"[Hall] and I look forward to this initial phase of 618 Plastics being just the first step into a strong, competitive and successful molding company," Robb said.