Plastic welding equipment and testing systems manufacturer expands plant

The new expansion, which will also enable the company to significantly expand penetration into growing markets, was completed at the end of August. It is part of a strategic effort to devote considerable new resources to help customers be more efficient and cut costs. Forward Technology, which currently employs 40, plans to increase staffing for sales, marketing, and technology functions at its Cokato headquarters site and sales office in Detroit, according to Brian Kivisto, president of Forward Technology and executive vice president of the Crest Group. 

Forward Technology, a company of the Crest Group, manufactures standard and customized welding and testing equipment specifically suited for thermoplastic parts for a broad range of applications in the automotive, medical, appliance, battery, filtration/fluid air and consumer goods markets.

"With our broad product portfolio of plastics assembly and testing equipment, we are firmly positioned as a strategic supplier and this expansion signals our further commitment to key national and multinational OEMs," said Kivisto.

The company's product line includes systems for hot plate welding, vibration welding, infrared welding, spin welding, and ultrasonic welding as well as systems for burst testing and custom leak testing (pressure decay testing), and functional testing for electronic components, Kivisto explained to PlasticsToday.

In spite of part consolidation efforts, reducing the number of components in various products and secondary operations required, Kivisto noted that demand for welding equipment for the plastics manufacturing industry has continued to increase in the automotive industry at both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier level. "Forward Technology works closely with our customers to help them streamline their processes and add robotic capabilities to meet specific requirements and help customers reduce the labor content and costs to manufacture their products," Kivisto said. While automotive represents a large percentage of the company's business, Forward Technology also serves a number of other industries including the appliance market.