Growing Molder to Be Negri Bossi ‘Showcase’

Injection molder MMI Engineered Solutions has invested $2 million to upgrade technology at its Saline, Mich., plant. The custom molder, which recently embarked on a strategic plan that resulted in a 25% hike in sales, purchased an 85-ton all-electric machine from Nissei America, Anaheim, Calif., and two presses—470 and 2250 tons—from Negri Bossi USA, New Castle, Del. As part of the deal, MMI has partnered with Negri Bossi to become the machine builder’s showcase in North America, says Doug Callahan, the molder’s president/COO.

Callahan came to MMI in 2012 and initiated a strategic plan that resulted in the molder focusing on improving its technology base and on serving customers in two areas of its core competency: automotive/heavy truck components, and customized, highly engineered, returnable dunnage for auto parts such as power trains and cam shafts. “A company our size, with $20 million in sales in 2012, can’t be all things to all people. We were spread too thin and serving too many markets. Now we are more focused at what we’re good it,” Callahan says.

Hiking its machine capacity, MMI has 13 presses now, with the three new ones expected to be running by the fall. “We looked at all of our options, crossed paths with Negri Bossi, liked their technology, and, knowing that they wanted to get more machines in the Midwest, worked out this partnership,” said Callahan.

In automotive and heavy trucks, MMI specializes in interior-trim and under-the-hood applications. “A lot of work is in metal-to-plastic conversions,” says Callahan. “A lot is also in plastic-to-plastic conversions,” where MMI in some cases has been able to replace expensive engineering resins with less costly materials.