Molders/Moldmakers

Acquisitions
Precise sets foot in Europe. The acquisition of Phaff BV, a Netherlands-based molder with high-speed offline decorating and inmold labeling expertise, represents the first expansion into Europe by North Versailles, PA-based Precise Technology. Phaff operates 42 Netstal machines. Contact: Mike Farrell, Precise exec. vp, (412) 823-2100.

Pontiac Coil buys Advance Plastics Corp. Clarkson, MI-based Pontiac Coil, a manufacturer of electrical-mechanical devices for automotive, industrial, and telecommunications uses, is buying molding and moldmaking expertise with the acquisition of Advance Plastics Corp. (APC, Schoolcraft, MI). APC consists of Advanced Molding Innovations, a custom molder, and Advanced Mold Technology, a moldmaker. Pontiac Coil plans to expand the plant with a 30,000-sq-ft addition and 10 new molding machines. APC will continue to be primarily a custom molder and moldmaker. Contact: Dick Wheeler, gm, (616) 679-5066.

Carson Tool bought by former apprentice. David Myers, a 27-year employee of Carson Tool & Mold (Kennesaw, GA), purchased the 24,000-sq-ft shop from The Electra Group (Vandalia, OH), a financial holding firm. Myers served his moldmaking apprenticeship under company founder George Carson. Contact: David Myers, president, (770) 427-3716.

New Programs
Berry expands to thermoforming. Berry Plastics is branching out, expanding its packaging products (until now strictly injection molded) to thermoformed PP and PS products. A 113,000-sq-ft plant adjacent to its Evansville, IN plant will accommodate six thermoforming lines; the first will be operational by the end of 2000. Berry has also completed the acquisition of closure manufacturer Poly-Seal, Baltimore. Contact: Martin Imbler, president, (812) 424-2904.

Joint Ventures
Caco Pacific, Hofstetter partner for PET molds. Caco Pacific will sell PET molds from Otto Hofstetter AG in North America and will begin construction on a manufacturing plant to make the molds under Hofstetter patents. Caco Pacific will also provide service and technical support. Contact: John Thirlwell, vp sales/marketing, (626) 331-3361.

Suppliers

Acquisitions
Reglo buys Marvel. Marvel Equipment Corp., sales rep for Regloplas temperature control units, has been purchased by Reglo Holding and will be renamed Regloplas Corp. It will maintain its facilities in Farmington Hills, MI. Contact: Brian C. Shutts, Regloplas president and coo, (248) 478-2044.

New Programs
Demag Ergotech declares independence. Demag Ergotech USA, which last year began to set up a sales network separate from its sister company Van Dorn Demag (both are owned by Mannesmann Plastics Machinery Group), is now establishing its own operation in a 26,000-sq-ft plant in Strongsville, OH, complete with demonstration tech center. Demag Ergotech USA will now report directly to Demag Ergotech GmbH in Germany. In 1999, Demag Ergotech USA produced $40 million in sales. Contact: Richard Shaffer, vp/gm, (440) 876-6493.

Milacron creates MIM business unit. Ferromatik Milacron is formalizing its activities in metal and ceramic injection molding with the creation of a new business unit. The company has developed a special MIM package for its small-tonnage machines, especially the new, lower-cost Vista Edge. Contact: Bill Reinhart, business unit manager, (888) 645-2276.

Expansions
Chen Hsong to open North American office. Hong Kong-based Chen Hsong Machinery Co. will open a branch office in Toronto, from which it will sell into Canada, the United States, and Central and South America. Previously, Chen Hsong had used several rep firms for sales efforts here. Services will include plant layout, installation, and support for its products: molding machines from 20 to 3200 tons and takeout robots. Chen Hsong Machinery Co. manufactures 3000 molding machines each year; its parent, Chen Hsong Group, produces a total of 9000 machines annually, many directed to China molding operations. Contact: Rays Chiu, +852 2663 7153.

Joint Ventures
IDES, Campus, M-Base collaborate on material database. A new version of IDES’ Prospector materials database cosponsored by Campus and M-Base will provide information on global materials featuring both ISO-based and ASTM material property data. Contact: Mike Kmetz, IDES president, (307) 742-9227.