The machine was completely refurbished down to its frame and upgraded in 2008. It was used only for sampling and R&D.

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Products on display at Booth #979W include:

• Prototype Designs and Convenient Test Facility Ideal for Mold Adjustments: Monroe Mold customers can test pre-production bottle molds with a sample lab machine at sister company R&B Plastics Machinery, located just 38-miles north. Test runs and product samples help alter prototype designs as needed for future high-speed production runs. Oftentimes changes are made in wall thickness, neck design, corner supports and more, depending on the container’s product. Sample runs are a more cost-effective method for customers to evaluate pre-production bottles without tying up manufacturing lines. It is another value-added feature that complements the partnership between Monroe Mold and R&B Plastics Machinery.
  

  “The family of R&B blow-molding machines and extrusion blow molds from Monroe Mold provide a combined product line distinct from any OEM in the industry,” explained Al Hodge, president of R&B Holdings Co. LLC, parent company to both Monroe Mold and R&B Plastics Machinery.

• Monroe Mold building expansion fueled by upswing in orders: Monroe Mold is off to a strong start in 2012 with extrusion-blow mold orders ahead of the last several years.

  This steady increase created a need for a larger shop with new technologies. The company is in the midst of a building expansion to add more manufacturing space for equipment, an engineering center, materials storage and staff.

  “Monroe Mold has a certified apprenticeship program for developing mold makers which enables us to provide true value to customers. We are proud of their expertise and look forward to adding new employees to further expand Monroe Mold’s capabilities,” said Jim Ghesquire, president of Monroe Mold.

• Repair/refinishing of damaged molds a value-added service: The building expansion also increases Monroe Mold‘s ability to repair damaged or worn molds, a market that has shown continued growth.
  

  “We’re told it’s tough to find capable U.S. companies to repair extrusion blow molds and deliver in a timely manner. Monroe Mold has a strong reputation due to its experienced mold-building staff and their abilities to make timely, difficult repairs on complex molds. Their increase in business underlines the company’s skills in designing and manufacturing sophisticated blow molds. A commitment to good service/support keeps customers’ production schedules on track and keeps them coming back”, Hodge explained.

Monroe Mold and R&B Plastics Machinery serve customers in diverse packaging markets such as food/beverage, agricultural chemicals, motor oil/lubricants, personal care, medical/pharmaceuticals, household cleaners/detergents and more. The molds and machines also are used in the automotive, industrial/commercial markets and other applications.

Both companies are part of the Talon Group based in Grosse Pointe, MI. For more information on Monroe Mold and R&B Plastics Machinery, see www.monroemold.com and www.rbplasticsmachinery.com.

Monroe Mold employee Ed Sobeski examines a tool setting.

The company’s molds are used to produce a broad array of blow molded products, especially containers for consumer products in the polyethylene-packaging industry…

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And that list of holidays includes one that stands as a continuing symbol of an American cultural tradition — “Veterans Day (Observed).”

The holiday does not fall on the actual Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

“But it happens to coincide with the start of deer hunting in Michigan,” said Kristin Dziczek, the head of the labor and industry group with the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

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Monroe Mold President Jim Ghesquire says the company plans to add machinery and an engineering area.

The Monroe firm — a blow mold toolmaker with a focus on polyethylene containers — first opened in 1977. President Jim Ghesquire said this addition to its 15,825-square-foot plant will provide space for new machinery, an engineering area and a conference area.

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Monroe Mold ground breaking ceremony, September 2011

“We are pleased to announce this building addition to acquire new equipment and expand the company’s manufacturing space. This will support Monroe Mold’s continued growth,” said Al Hodge, president of R&B Holdings Co. LLC, parent firm to Monroe Mold LLC in Monroe, MI and sister company R&B Plastics Machinery LLC located 38-miles north in Saline, MI.

“We have seen a steady increase in orders for our products. The new 7,650 sq. ft. addition considerably increases our present 15,825 sq. ft. building to expand our manufacturing capabilities,” explained Jim Ghesquire, president of Monroe Mold. The expansion will include a manufacturing area with new shop machinery, an engineering area and a conference area.

The new manufacturing space will be constructed by Romanko Sales and Service Co. of Sycamore, OH. This will be the sixth expansion of the business. The addition is scheduled for completion by summer 2012.

The company’s molds are used to produce a broad array of blow molded products, especially containers for consumer products in the polyethylene-packaging industry. Monroe Mold also serves industrial markets such as automotive, lawn and garden, agriculture, motor oil/lubricants, household cleaners/chemicals, medical/pharmaceutical products and more.

Mark Gardner explains molds to community leaders on tour at fall 2011 Groundbreaking Ceremony for building expansion.

“Monroe Mold has a certified apprenticeship program for developing mold makers which enables us to provide true value to customers. We are proud of their expertise and look forward to adding new employees to further expand Monroe Mold’s capabilities,” Ghesquire said.

The R&B Holding companies — Monroe Mold and R&B Plastics Machinery — are strategically located in the Midwest to best serve North American plastics processors. In addition to the automotive industry, Michigan is home to a wide variety of bottle manufacturers, Hodge explained.

“The R&B blow-molding machines and blow molds from Monroe Mold provide a combined product line distinct from any other OEM in the industry,” Hodge said.

Another benefit to customers: R&B has a tech center with a sample mold machine to test pre-production bottle designs. This is a more cost-effective method for customers to evaluate pre-production bottles without tying up production lines. It is another value-added feature that complements the partnership between Monroe Mold and R&B Plastics Machinery, Hodge said.

“The company’s rapid-shuttle mold platform is ideal for any firm needing a quick prototype to test product designs on a lab machine. It comes in customized sizes and is made at our Monroe, Michigan mold shop, just one-half hour south of Detroit – ideal for shipment to most North American shops. Packaging companies like that our standard rapid-shuttle mold has a normal delivery time of just one week for samples,” according to Jim Ghesquire, president.

An assortment of products ranging from small personal-care molds to a shuttle production mold, deflash tooling and head tooling will be on display at NPE. The privately owned company is known for supplying molds used by major container companies making up to five- gallon bottles used for agricultural and chemical products; large nursery planters for trees and plants; industrial containers and drums; plus a broad assortment of bottles made by major consumer-packaging firms. The blow molds will be on display at NPE Booth #S20063 in conjunction with its sister company, R&B Plastics Machinery located in nearby Saline, MI.

“Average turn-around time (from submission of drawings to first run) is from one week for the RSM platform to nine weeks for a complete Rotary Shuttle mold package. Our rebuild business also is significant: We retrofit all sizes and types of blow molds and extruder dies,” explained Ghesquire.

Monroe Mold was founded in 1977 and has a staff of 26 with over 300 years combined experience. In addition to its expert mold makers, the company’s Midwest location is ideal for fast-turnaround on deliveries and service/support, Ghesquire added.

Monroe Mold is owned by the Talon Group LLC based in Detroit, MI. For more details on Monroe Mold, contact Jim Ghesquire at PH: 734-241-6898, #102.