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.

Moldworx will retain the name as well as all 35 current employees, including Taylor, who is now Vice President and General Manager. His business partner, Joe Motyka, will stay on as Director of Operations. Sunningdale Tech employs approximately 8,000 people globally and operates more than 1,000 injection presses.

“The next big step to expansion requires a substantial amount of capital infusion. While we weren’t looking to sell, Sunningdale was looking for entry into the US market with a successful company that was aligned with their capabilities in the markets they serve,” said Taylor. “We’re looking forward to being part of the next phase of the continued growth of Moldworx.”

Moldworx began as a mold design and manufacturing operation and eventually grew into molding. Today, Moldworx operates 10 injection molding presses ranging from 55 to 400 tons. The mold-making division builds molds primarily for components for the drug delivery/pharmaceutical market. The molding division serves a variety of markets, including consumer, agriculture, and healthcare.

Indian car accessory manufacturer Goldsun Auto has opted for an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) compound supplied by Ineos Styrolution for the production of bumper guards, spoilers and other after-market accessories. Absolac E 502 BML is employed in a blow molding process by the company. Other components using the material include luggage carriers and footsteps.

Jim Taylor, founder and owner of Moldworx LLC in Chandler, AZ, wasn’t particularly looking to sell the business he started 25 years ago, but when a good offer came along, he decided it was time. On Nov. 6, 2020, Singapore-based global precision plastics manufacturer Sunningdale Tech Ltd. completed the acquisition of Moldworx via its wholly owned subsidiary Sunningdale Tech Inc. in Michigan.

Taylor explained that Sunningdale has 18 manufacturing facilities in eight countries around the world, with a support office in Michigan. “This marks Sunningdale’s first expansion into the US,” said Taylor.

Goldsun employs processes such as blow molding, plasma cutting (cutting electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma), and powder coating to create high quality and visually appealing components. It is one of the first companies to start a dedicated ABS bumper guard production unit in India. The special blow molding technology employed reportedly ensures dimensional accuracy, high volume production, high surface finish and repeatability factors.

Goldsun also uses other ABS grades such as Absolac 120 HR for the production of the Goldsun Footrail running boards suitable for all SUVs, and Absolac 200 EP, an easy-flow electroplating injection-molding grade is used for automotive plating parts.

Blow molding grade Absolac E 502 BML is the latest addition to the portfolio used by Goldsun. It is used for the production of the Goldsun Xtent Defender and Trishul range of bumper guards for SUVs like the Tata Hexa and parcel trays for Datsun redi-GO. Goldsun chose this particular grade for its high melt strength and good mechanical properties.

G Ramachandran, Managing Director at Goldsun, says: “We are happy with the E 502 BML grade, as it gives a better result in blow molding products. Absolac shows good flexibility that helps in proper molding. Its high melt strength and broader processing window contributes to produce good quality bumper guards weighing 17 to 18 kg, with good impact strength, dimensional stability and consistent product wall thickness.”

Sunningdale builds injection molds for presses in the 10 to 1,800 ton range, primarily for the automotive, consumer, and healthcare markets. Film insert molding, liquid silicone rubber, stack molds, multi-shot, gas-assist, and molds for thin-wall, high-speed processes are specialties.

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."