Photo provided A Flambeau associate in Columbus processes a freshly-molded Formula Bow Case for the Flambeau Outdoors retail division, manufactured on the company’s new 1,900-ton injection molding press.

The addition of new equipment expanding the capacity at a local thermoplastics manufacturer is also resulting in bigger paychecks for the company’s hourly employees.

Flambeau Inc., which operates a 177,000-square-foot plant at 4325 Middle Road in Columbus, is increasing its previous injection molding rage limit by 27%. This was made possible by the installation of the plant’s newly-installed Engel Duo press which increases the previous injection molding range limit by 400 tons to bring about a larger part capability to the facility.

In announcing their Engel Duo is now operational, Flambeau also said they are giving across-the-board raises to its 76 hourly employees in three categories. The plant has raised its starting wage by 6.7%, its top-of-scale wage by 10.8%, and its technical position pay by more than 20%, a corporate press release states.

Although the company did not provide monetary estimates, a tax abatement request filed last spring lists Flambeau’s average starting hourly wage at $15.65 an hour.

Thorough and exhaustive research by Flambeau’s engineers included studying dozens of machines before the Engel Duo press was chosen, company officials said.

What primarily made the Engel Duo press the best choice is its 1,900-ton clamp force, which is needed to hold a mold together during injection, according to the company.

The new press has been enhanced with magnetic platens (holding plates that secure two mold halves) to lower downtime costs during mold changes, company officials said. There is also energy efficient processing, precision engineering, high-performance technologies and efficiencies related to set-up and performance that will bring significant long-run savings, according to the company.

The first product being manufactured by the new machine is for the Flambeau Outdoors retail division. At 17 pounds and almost four feet in length, the Formula Bow Case is being manufactured for archery enthusiasts.

Additional molds planned to run in the new machine are in development. Existing products are also scheduled to transfer to the new press to free up capacity on the facility’s older 1,500-ton fleet of presses, company officials said.

Beside the Outdoors division, Flambeau will also make products for use in handling power equipment, as well as for the agriculture, automotive and construction sectors, among others.

The Columbus facility serves many retail, commercial, and industrial markets, including contract manufacturing for key sectors of the automotive, medical, fluids, and packaging industries.

Nobody covers Columbus, Indiana and the surrounding areas like The Republic.

2980 N. National Road, Suite A, Columbus, IN 47201

Main Switchboard: (812) 372-7811 Toll Free: (800) 876-7811