Troy, Mich.-based National Composites LLC has partnered with Tecumseh, Ontario-based Laval Tool & Mould Ltd. to meet demand for sheet and bulk molding compound toolmaking and production.
"The goal of this partnership is to make National a one-stop solution for everything composites," Adam Fenton, CEO of National Composites, told Plastics News in an interview.
Laval's facility in Ontario will "handle everything from the tool build to the molding of the SMC panels," Fenton said, while National Composites sources customers and does "any assembly, top coat [or] paint … about an hour and a half away" at its plant in Troy.
National Composites is "leveraging Laval's expertise in SMC toolmaking and SMC production," to meet demand for the construction and agriculture industries, which are "driving forces," he said.
"Not many SMC molders can handle mid-to-low volume," Fenton said, adding that there is also some demand from the commercial EV market.
The partnership will also expand National Composites' steel and aluminum tooling capabilities, a Jan. 8 news release said.
National Composites has six locations in Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri, manufacturing custom molded FRP, thermoformed plastic and full metal cab fabrications. It also offers assembly and painting.
Laval designs and builds compression molds for military, government, and other commercial sectors.