Heard on the showfloor: Processor updates from MD&M West

At MD&M West (Feb. 9-11; Anaheim, CA), Pelham Plastics (Pelham, NH) was awaiting word on an occupancy permit for a plant expansion that would more than double the custom injection molding and assembly company's space. John Mackey, Pelham's president, told PlasticsToday that the company has added 17,000 ft² to its existing 15,000 ft² site. Investing more than $1.5 million, Mackey said the company was adding multiple pieces of assembly equipment and a new Arburg injection molding machine. In addition, they've also hired three new employees in the past 6 weeks, with plans to hire six to eight more.

Specializing in insert molding, the company currently has seven injection molding machines and 60 employees, with white room molding capabilities. The expansion is fed by new business and expanded contracts with existing customers, according to Mackey, who said in 2009, Pelham's business expanded by about 20%.

Moldmaker Tech Mold Inc. (Tempe, AZ) announced at MD&M West that it has recently added a white room environment, including two molding machines, to its test facility. Jerry Seidelman, sales and marketing manager, told PlasticsToday the investment is intended to support customers that require pre-production runs of parts, particularly in the medical and pharmaceutical segments. To start, Tech Mold's white room will house a 55-ton Arburg all-electric and a 72-ton KraussMaffei machine. Seidelman said that in 2009, roughly 60% of its business came from the medical segment. Thus far in 2010, Seidelman has seen a lot of new activity, as well as the resurrection of projects mothballed in the malaise of 2009. "It's an optimistic time," Seidelman said.

Healthcare and industrial molder Medplast (Tempe, AZ) announced at MD&M West its plans to adopt a customer relationship model often seen in industries other then plastics. The company announced its use of Technology Roadmapping to assist customers with product development and manufacturing. "Our job is to keep up with the latest technology," said Dan Streufert, director of information technology at Medplast, explaining that keeping current with the latest advances, and showing customers how they might help them make a better product, would help its customers, and therefore, itself.

Streufert said the initiative has been spearheaded by Chris Morton, Medplast's COO, who actively engages with customers, giving training session. Morton's past experience includes time with Flextronics, the electronics contract manufacturing giant that serves and industry where Technology Roadmapping is more prevalent. MedPlast operates five plants, employing roughly 700 with 375,000 ft² of manufacturing space and more than 200 injection molding machines.