Metro Plastics Technologies - The Emphasis is on 'Solutions'
By Kym Conis (Plastics Business winter 2007 article) (Page: 1 2 3 4)
How does a contract molder spread its seeds in an overcrowded field - where terms and conditions have become one-sided and supply and demand out of balance? For Metro Plastics Technologies, Inc., Noblesville, Indiana, growth has stemmed from a selective process of providing solutions - a customized blend that starts with customer evaluation, continues with engineering support, advances with state-of-the-art rapid prototyping, and ends with a solution far beyond the mere product.
Like many contract molders in the initial stages of growth, Metro Plastics grew its operation through a series of opportunities, seizing each one as capability and capacity would dictate. "Like many molders (back in 1975), I came from a tooling background - starting out building molds," states Lindsey Hahn, owner and president of Metro Plastics Technologies. "When one of our customers couldn't pay for a mold, we took a molding machine as payment." In fact, Metro's first press was moved into its 700 square foot rental space in Indianapolis through a plate glass window. Metro's first molded product was the mood ring - a fad that provided Metro with some great business for a short amount of time. "It took me three days to build the molds; then we went into production around the clock for six weeks; and then it was over," recalls Hahn. "But, it got us started."
Next, Metro began to make plastic parts for convention badges; a second molding machine was added to the mix (along with a second mortgage on Hahn's house); and Metro's customer base started to expand. Molding took over as Metro's primary business and the company started adding machines... and new customers. RCA was Metro's first large customer, followed by Motorola, GE, and many more of the 'big ones'. "It seemed easy then as compared to today," says Hahn. "To get new customers, you looked for a company who used plastic components. You asked them if they had any problems. You solved their problem and you had a loyal customer for years."
After a series of plant moves and upgraded space, Metro Plastics bought some land in Noblesville and built its own facility - 14,500 square feet to start. "As we moved over our five molding machines, we never expected to be where we are today," Hahn recalls.
Today, Metro Plastics Technologies operates some 20 molding machines (ranging from 60 to 750 tons), equipped with automated material handling and robotics. Headquartered in two facilities (totaling some 60,000 square feet) on a ten-acre complex, Metro services a broad range of industries including consumer electronics, medical, automotive, house wares, and specialty products. Providing services such as thermoplastic injection molding, decorating, assembly, and packaging, as well as specialty services including insert molding and two-shot molding, Metro Plastics' emphasis is on customized solutions. "We provide engineering support and we are able to give our customers Stereolithography models of their parts prior to tool construction," explains Hahn. "This helps to identify problems and make changes before tooling is started."
