Capabilities include injection molding, assembly, in-mold decorating, high-volume molding, multi-material molding, insert molding, design, prototyping, and testing.

Thunderbird’s portfolio consists of American companies that manufacture their products in America but aim for a larger world market. They specialize in industries including automotive, military, power, industrial and consumer. Thunderbird is looking for opportunities to expand its portfolio to include more businesses in these industries that need financial, marketing and management skills to reach higher levels of growth and revenue.

In the meantime, Windsor Mold has ordered two new Engel combi M multi-shot injection molding machines – a 1,900 US ton and 1,000 US ton – both with the iQ weight control package. Installation of the machines is expected in early 2022.

From left to right: Ken Schad, regional sales, Canada for Engel and Mike Nicholls, planning and development manager for Windsor Mold. Photo Credit: Engel

Recently, Windsor Mold tested Engel’s iQ weight control software on their Engel machines. IQ melt control determines the optimum plasticizing time for each application. Instead of plasticizing at the maximum possible speed, the system takes advantage of the part’s in-mold cooling time to allow for plasticizing. The machine operator only has to enter the screw type and the material to be processed. The software was shown for the first time at K 2019, and became available worldwide in January.

Thunderbird LLC (Elk Grove Village, IL) has acquired the assets of Indiana Plastics/Kruis Mold Inc., based in Elkhart, IN, and named the new companies Indiana Plastics LLC and Kruis Mold LLC. Indiana Plastics is a custom injection molding company. Kruis Mold builds and repairs custom tooling and molds for a variety of companies.

“We conducted a trial at our test site in Ohio and were so pleased with the results that we installed the software on ten of our Engels,” said Mike Nicholls, Windsor Mold’s planning and development manager. “So far, we’ve seen 10 per cent in scrap reduction [and] our plans are to convert about 90 per cent of our Engel machines to the iQ weight control program over the next three to five years.”

Indiana Plastics maintains a skilled production staff that uses the latest molding practices and modern equipment, along with 50 years of experience, to produce superior injection molded products, explained Thunderbird. Kruis Mold builds and repairs custom tools for the molding industry.

The companies’ capabilities include injection molding (85 to 660 ton), assembly, in-mold decorating, high-volume molding, multi-material molding, insert molding, design, prototyping, and testing.

Canadian auto parts molder Windsor Mold Group is marking its fifteenth year as an Engel customer and, as an early adopter of Engel’s iQ weight control software, now plans to upgrade all of the compatible Engel machines in its fleet with the software.

Engel’s global headquarters is in Schwertberg, Austria. The company has North American headquarters in York, Pa. Its Canadian subsidiary, Engel Canada Inc., is located in Waterloo, Ont.

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."

As a member of the Thunderbird LLC portfolio of companies, Indiana Plastics can now cross-manufacture various products with Metal Impact, a manufacturer of impact extruded and machined metal parts, and F&B MFG, a manufacturer of hydroformed and machined metal parts, with Kruis providing mold and tooling support with CNC and wire EDM capabilities, said Thunderbird’s information.

A Tier 1 supplier to the majority of the top OEMs in the automotive industry, the Windsor, Ont.-based molder’s connection to Engel dates back to 2006, when it purchased its first two Engel injection molding machines, and since then Engel has been its exclusive supplier of large tonnage multi-shot machines. Windsor Mold currently has 45 Engel injection molding machines ranging from 310 to 3,000 US tons at its Windsor’s multiple locations in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. The main focus of the Engel multi-shot machines is production of automotive leafscreens and pillar appliques.

According to Kevin Prunsky, co-founder of Thunderbird LLC, the purchase complements Thunderbird’s recent acquisition, announced Feb. 28, 2018, of Williams Plastics LLC (Shelbyville, IN). Williams Plastics provides injection molded drinkware and custom art, design and print services. The string of acquisitions will form a stronger, more complete offering of plastic injection molding design, execution and delivery. Thunderbird has retained the Indiana Plastics/Kruis Mold Inc. management team and added marketing and financial management.