Negri Bossi brought a molding machine to the K that is older than the show itself, which is marking its 70th anniversary this year.

Stephen has been with PlasticsToday and its preceding publications Modern Plastics and Injection Molding since 1992, throughout this time based in the Asia Pacific region, including stints in Japan, Australia, and his current location Singapore. His current beat focuses on automotive. Stephen is an avid folding bicycle rider, often taking his bike on overseas business trips, and is a proud dachshund owner.

The molder of plastic closures and jars for a range of markets reports that production has increased 32% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mold-Rite Plastics manufactures injection-molded plastic closures and jars at locations in Pittsburgh, New York, and Somerset, NJ, in addition to the Twinsburg facility. The company’s products can be found on many national brands and private-label products, including spices and seasonings, syrups, sauces, health and beauty products, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Nissei and Negri Bossi have brough some of their oldest injection molding machines to the show. The YD-2 in the foreground of the photo dates back to 1960; it was Nissei’s first production model after it was incorporated as an injection machine maker in 1957. With a clamping force of 30 tonnes, the YD-2 on show was used for more than 40 years by a processor molding various resins, including polyacetal, polystyrene, and PVC, before being donated to the Nissei museum.

“The new addition will allow us to increase our business over 25%,” added Carol Rinder, Vice President of Operations for the Twinbsurg facility. “The expansion will also allow the facility to further advance the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin in its products.”

All of the Twinsburg facility’s current product offerings are manufactured with recyclable polypropylene, and Mold-Rite has been working closely with brand owners to incorporate more recycled content into their packaging. Mold-Rite Plastics takes pride in ongoing initiatives to delight customers by offering more sustainable products that reduce the amount of plastics used, provide recyclable options, and promote re-use wherever possible.

Mold-Rite Plastics, a supplier of plastic closures and jars, announced a groundbreaking ceremony today, July 8, at its Twinsburg, OH, manufacturing facility. The company is responding to extraordinary growth in manufacturing closures that are used daily by millions of consumers around the world, said the company in its announcement. The company has remained operational 24/7 throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until she retired in September 2021, Clare Goldsberry reported on the plastics industry for more than 30 years. In addition to the 10,000+ articles she has written, by her own estimation, she is the author of several books, including The Business of Injection Molding: How to succeed as a custom molder and Purchasing Injection Molds: A buyers guide. Goldsberry is a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association. She reflected on her long career in "Time to Say Good-Bye."

Both celebrate their 75th anniversary this year, both companies have red in their logo, and both are now under the same roof at K 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Japan’s Nissei Plastic Industrial and Italy’s Negri Bossi are exhibiting jointly for the first time in hall 15, booth B22, after Nissei acquired Negri Bossi in 2020. Also present at the booth is robot maker Sytrama, part of the Negri Bossi group.

More recent highlights at the joint Nisse/Negri Bossi booth include an injection molding machine outfitted with an injection blow molding tool from Spanish mold builder Molmasa that employs factory compressed air. The production cell is being demonstrated molding 500-ml biodegradable PLA jars with in-mold PLA labeling.

The company noted that this increased demand cannot be fulfilled through operational efficiency alone. Mold-Rite Plastics has historically invested capital at a substantially higher rate than the industry average in order to stay ahead of demand and maximize flexibility. This building expansion reaffirms a commitment to employees, customers, consumers, and American manufacturing, said Mold-Rite.

“We are manufacturing important products, adding employment opportunities, and working to improve the environment,” added Rinder. “We are excited to make this investment in our community.”

Negri Bossi, for its part, has shipped in a hand-operated unit that was built in 1946 (background in the photo), one year before the company was officially incorporated. The NB28 15-tonne press was the first machine manufactured in Italy and it was sold to a factory near Bergamo for 450,000 lira (€232 in today’s money) to mold buttons from polystyrene.

Our mission remains to be the most responsible and flexible supplier in the packaging industry. Our factories have responded incredibly well to increased levels of demand, resulting in production being up 32%,” stated Brian Bauerbach, President and CEO of Mold-Rite Plastics.