FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INMAN, S.C. – Mack Molding Company has ratcheted up it’s large press total (1000-3300 tons) to 30 machines by installing a new 3300-ton, twin-platen press with a 540-ounce shot size at its Inman, S.C., facility, it was announced today by Ray Burns, president, southern operations. “We also purchased two new 1100-ton presses, one for the Inman operation and a second for our growing 105,000-sq-ft facility in Statesville, N.C.,” adds Burns. In all, Mack operates 117 presses in six locations throughout the eastern United States.
“These new equipment acquisitions were the next steps in the strategic plan we announced four years ago to expand Mack’s capabilities in large part molding,” says Burns. “First, we built a stand-alone 25,000-sq-ft molding facility at the Inman plant to house four large presses up to 4000 tons. One by one, we installed a 2500-, 3000- and now a 3300-ton press as we grew our position in the large tonnage marketplace. Now, we’re looking at the feasibility of adding a 4000-ton press to the roster,” says Burns.
Mack sees growing opportunities in several market sectors for its large tonnage machines, including heavy truck parts, large screen TVs, recreational and utility vehicles, and medical devices. “Mack’s southern operations have grown every year over the past four years, and the trend is up,” adds Burns. We’re expecting up to 20 percent growth this year.”
Beyond recognizing the opportunity and building capacity to serve it, logistics have also played a major role in Mack South’s success in the large-part market. “Logistics and the cost and difficulties involved in sourcing big parts are problems we’ve been able to solve for our customers, who are primarily located in the southeastern United States,” says Burns. “Mexico is expensive and lacks sufficient infrastructure. China’s freight costs for shipping large parts overseas offset any potential labor cost advantages. And handling is an issue…to prevent damage, the less you handle large parts, the better.”
The new presses are all twin platen machines from the Van Dorn Demag Caliber Series, and are fully equipped with robots for part removal. To service its large press room at the Inman plant, Mack has installed a Sterling central loading and drying system. “With a central dryer and five 4000-lb. resin hoppers, we’ll increase our material handling flexibility while minimizing the time it takes to change materials,” says Manufacturing Manager Ken Valko. Mack has also installed an automated distribution system for conveying large parts from the press room to the assembly floor.
With infrastructure in place to add only one more large press at its Inman plant, Burns points out that the new expansion was designed so that it could easily be doubled in size if market demand for large press capacity continued to grow. Three years ago, Mack supplied three transportation OEMs. “Today, we’re doing business with eight,” says Burns, “and see many other transportation applications right d own the road. We’re excited about the future!”
The moving platen for Mack’s new 3300-tonner was delivered on a 74-wheeler with an articulating, multisectioned flatbed more than 200 feet long.
About Mack
Mack is a full-service contract manufacturer that specializes in plastics design, prototyping and molding, as well as sheet metal fabrication. The company operates 12 facilities throughout the eastern U.S., Scotland and Mexico totaling 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing space. Founded in 1920, Mack is a privately owned business that has earned a 5A1 D&B rating, the highest available. For further information, call 802-375-2511.
