LMR Plastics, injection molder, adds capacity, new building, and employees, too

LMR Plastics (Greeneville, TN) serves customers in power lawn-care products, filtration products, industrial controls, automotive, dental devices, and telecommunications, with both injection molding and value-add secondary operations such as welding, assembly and printing.

In addition to injection molding, LMR Plastics offers value-add operations including assembly, plastic welding (hot plate, ultrasonic, spin), hot stamping, pad printing and heat staking. "Our company has been fortunate in 2010, in securing additional business from current and new customers, as well as seeing our customers' production demands rebound from the 2009 downturn," said Leonard. He continued, "Our team responded well in 2009 to the economic downturn by ensuring that we maintained our efficiencies as well as retaining our talented team member base. Our performance puts us in a position to take advantage of some of the growth opportunities we are seeing with the improving economy."

To make sure it has the punch to meet those new opportunities, the company has invested in new large-tonnage injection molding machinery and has acquired and renovated a warehouse located adjacent to its main production facility. This new building will be home to its value-add operations.

The new equipment represents a further expansion into the large tonnage press range, increasing capacity in the 1750, 720, and 500 ton ranges. All three are from Toshiba and already are installed in his plant, Leonard told MPW in reply to questions.

Previously the company's largest press was a 1500-ton machine. Additionally, the company reports it is investing in additional automation. Current plans call for the injection molder to increase its employment base through 2012 by 25 or more employees over 2009 levels. Leonard told us most of these will be in manufatcuring positions. "Almost all of the new hires will be in manufatcuring as we expand our operations," he explained. "We were able to hold our staff together during the downturn, so our support staff is in good shape for the planned growth."

The new facility located next to the main manufacturing facility will function as the primary warehouse for finished goods. "Previously, we were using a smaller warehouse that was located off premises, requiring us to transport our finished goods. With this addition, we will have our goods and our staffing located on the same manufacturing campus, improving our efficiencies and allowing us room for our planned growth," Leonard said.

Additionally, the new facility will have a designated area for value-add operations. "Our customers continue to request us to do more of the manufacturing process on their components; the designated value-add area will allow us to place a greater focus on these operations and enhance our growth potential," explained Leonard. Included here will be the assembly, printing, welding and heat staking work the company already has offered, as well as a new skill, hot plate welding, Leonard explained. The hot plate welding equipment was added recently to meet requirements for a project for a customer's low-pressure tank.    

LMR Plastics, founded in 1973, has been owned and operated by the Leonard family since September 1996.