Corry, Pa.-based injection molder Viking Plastics is investing $3 million in eight new injection molding machines ranging from 197-618 tons and new hires to manage the company's growth.
The investment also includes secondary support equipment, a May 17 news release said.
The expansion will help meet increased demand from both existing and new customers in the automotive, appliance and construction markets, Shana Bailey, marketing coordinator at Viking, told Plastics News in an email.
"Viking Plastics continues to invest in new equipment to support the auto industry transition into electrified vehicles and our continued growth in the HVAC market," Kelly Goodsel, president and CEO of Viking, said in the release. "I'm extremely proud of the Viking Plastics team for their hard work and dedication to support this expansion."
Viking "anticipates continued growth and plans to purchase additional machines by end of 2022 and into 2023," the release said.
With the purchase of the new machines, the company expects to see an increase in productivity, efficiency and product quality, it said.
Viking Plastics' facilities in the U.S., China and Brazil house more than 100 molding machines, with capabilities in the range of 50- to 1,800-ton injection molding, and capabilities including two-shot, insert molding, value-added assemblies and automated assembly cells.