FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ECK PLASTIC ARTS EXPANDS CAPABILITY WITH
ADDITION OF 1,012-TON MARS II S MOLDING MACHINE
BINGHAMTON, NY, (July 7, 2020) – Since injection molding is its fastest growing market segment, Eck Plastic Arts has enhanced its injection molding capacity with a Haitian 1,012-ton Mars II S injection molding machine. The MA 9000 II S/6800 was delivered to their Binghamton, New York location in June 2020.
Eck Plastic Arts is a producer of quality plastic parts for original equipment manufacturers, including vacuum forming, injection molding and fabrication of sheet plastic. The company caters to industrial equipment manufacturers for markets including medical and defense equipment suppliers.
The new MA 9000 II S is four times larger than Eck Plastic Arts’ next largest press. “When looking to grow our business, we realized it is not hard to find work for a molding machine this size,” said Brett Pennefeather, President. “At the time the machine was ordered, we had one project lined up for the 1,012-ton Mars. Now we have five other projects lined up right behind that.”
This is the first Haitian press purchased by the company. Asked why they selected the MA II S, Pennefeather noted the machine’s easy-to-use tie bar puller. “Our ceilings top out at 11 feet and machines this size are about 9 feet high. The only way to install or change out a mold is to load the mold from the side,” said Pennefeather. “We ordered the MA II S with an automatic tie bar puller that was on the preferred side of the machine and operated with a push of a button. The lead time on this customized option was shorter from Absolute Haitian than from competitors and other competitors’ tie bar pullers were not automatic.”
Preparing for delivery of the machine was challenged by the rise of the Coronavirus since a new concrete floor had to be poured and new electrical and plumbing services installed while keeping employees and contractors safe. Delivery of the large-tonnage machine was equally challenging as the riggers, Rogers Service Group, had to navigate several tight intersections and a narrow delivery dock. “The clamp alone weighed some 50,000 pounds and was assembled outside and then rolled into the building,” said Pennefeather.
-more-
The first product being made on the MA II S is a souvenir drinking cup shaped as a baseball bat and sold at major and minor league ballparks. “The delay in opening professional baseball ended up working in our favor as it took the fire drill out of starting up the machine,” admitted Pennefeather. “It gave us more time to make sure everything was assembled properly, and auxiliaries were hooked up correctly as we familiarize our team with this new machine make.”
Stepping Up During COVID-19 Crisis Keeps Eck Plastic Arts Busy
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Eck Plastic Arts has partnered with a local non-profit, the Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment (AVRE) to manufacture thousands of face shields. AVRE has contracts with federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assemble the face shields from components produced by Eck Plastic Arts. “AVRE has been able to distribute the shields not only to federal agencies but also to several local hospitals,” explained Pennefeather. “We provide the parts at cost, keeping our shop active, enabling AVRE to provide contract work for its visually impaired clients and lower the price of the face shields for entities that badly need them.”
About Eck Plastic Arts
Eck Plastic Arts is located in Binghamton, NY and produces quality made plastic parts for original equipment manufacturers. Established in 1949, the company maintains an unbreakable commitment to its employees, customers and community. Eck Plastic Arts’ high-caliber parts are made on time, defining why our partnerships with our loyal customers are strong and consistent. We are an ever-growing business and pride ourselves on our ability to provide a personal touch with the attention to detail a small business can supply. No matter the size of the order, our customers receive excellent customer service and the highest quality products available.
About Absolute Haitian
Absolute Haitian, based in Worcester, Massachusetts, is the exclusive sales and service partner in the U.S. and Canada for Haitian International based in Ningbo, China. Ningbo Haitian Machinery Co., Ltd. is the world’s largest supplier of plastics injection molding machinery, shipping more than 32,000 machines in 2019. Haitian products are sold in more than 130 countries with machine sizes ranging from 44 to 7,425 U.S. tons of clamp force. More information is available by visiting the Absolute Haitian website at www.absolutehaitian.com
CONTACT:
Patrice Aylward, Communications Consultant, 216/618-3174 or [email protected]
Brett Pennefeather, President, Eck Plastic Arts 607/722-3227 or [email protected]
