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EMU Plastics continues to expand
EMU Plastics-McAllen is a high-tech plastic injection moulding and custom mould design plant. This is the second location for the
Canadian-based company.
"We specialize in switches or any other difficult part with tight tolerances," said David Bazan, general manager at EMU Plastics-McAllen.
The plant specializes in plastic housings for
switches for automotives, brakes, doors, wiper switches. The part is then sent to their customers in Reynosa, such as Ford and Chrysler.
"We're here mainly to serve the maquila industry," Bazan said.
The
45,000-square-foot air-conditioned facility has 16 employees and top-of-the-line equipment. Within three months, the company will expand its facility to double its current size.
There are six machines running 24 hours a day five to six days a week.
"By the end of the year, we will have 16 machines. Our goal for the year 2000 is to have 50 machines," Bazan said.
"Currently, we are equipped
with plastic injection molding machines. We are hoping to be equipped with an insert molding machine in about three months. No one in the Valley has one and there is a demand for it," Bazan said.
By the end of the
year, the company will be certified QS-9002, a quality system program for automotive.
"This will improve the overall quality and it will help generate more business," Bazan said.
Inside the plant is a quality
assurance lab equipped with a Micro-VU video measuring system which magnifies material at 160X.
"It helps assure that the parts are made to print by showing an accurate reading of the measurements," said Santos
Alafa, quality assurance manager.
The measurements are then stored so that each part can be checked individually.
EMU-Plastics is working to enhance the education of its employees by working with South Texas
Community College and the University of Texas-Pan American.
"This additional education and training will give employees the opportunity to advance within the company," Bazan said. |
