Custom plastic and rubber injection molder Calico Precision Molding LLC (Fort Wayne, IN) is planning to invest more than $330,000 in building improvements and new equipment. Expected to be completed by the end of June, the project will mean the addition of 20 staff by the spring of 2009, boosting the company’s total employment to 66.

The company has asked the Fort Wayne Common Council to phase in real and personal property taxes associated with the project, offering potential tax savings of $26,625 over 10 years. The company says that more than $169,000 will be invested in the building and more than $163,000 will be spent on manufacturing, research & development, logistics, and information technology equipment. Privately held, Calico was created with the acquisition of certain assets of Connor Engineered Plastics in July 2001. It serves customers in automotive, aerospace, military, and commercial markets.

Also on the expansion front, custom injection molder Vantec Inc. (Webster City, IA) will later this year open a new 40,000-sq-ft facility in Falls City, NE, initially employing up to 25. Vantec cited a readily available workforce and a major customer in the area as reasons for the new site.

Vantec Inc. celebrates 25 years in business on Dec. 1,, 2008. Started by Bev and Willie Van Wyhe with two employees and two machines, it currently employs more than 200 in a 145,000-sq-ft facility with 44 machines at its Webster City location.