ERJ staff report (RPN)
By Chris Sweeney, Rubber & Plastics News
Topeka, Kansas — HF Mixing Group is consolidating its entire batch mixing machinery business to HF Rubber Machinery Inc. in Topeka, Kansas.
All Banbury equipment will be transferred to Topeka, effective 3 Sept. Farrel began making the rubber industry workhorse Banbury mixer, invented by Fernley H. Banbury, at a facility in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1916.
The move not only will bring all batch mixing together under one roof, it will allow the Ansonia plant to dedicate all its resources on the HF Mixing Group's new continuous mixing business.
The continuous group was created as part of the HF Mixing Group's worldwide business realignment and combines technologies from both Farrel and Pomini. The company name for the continuous group is Farrel-Pomini.
"It made no sense to have two sites," said Ian Wilson, business unit director of tangential mixers. "We had a more modern manufacturing site in Topeka, and we were looking to expand it, which we are in the process of doing now. It made more sense to consolidate the activities of the tangential rubber business and relocate this into Topeka."
Wilson said the move will increase response time, stocking of component parts and streamlined support because of improved synchronization with the engineering department. The company said the Ansonia plant now has the required capacity to accommodate significant growth in its continuous mixing plastic business.
The company is building an assembly hall at Topeka to help support the influx of business inherited because of the transition. The firm will not reveal the exact cost, but Wilson said it represents a seven-figure investment. He also said jobs already have been created at Topeka, and with the expansion, more likely will follow.
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Article from Rubber & Plastics News
