Maplan opens US facility, names new president

South Elgin, Illinois – The Maplan Group has opened a new production unit in South Elgin, Illinois, during a recent technology day event.

The new plant is 40% larger than the company's previous facility, which was also in South Elgin, according to national sales director John Mohl Sr.

The timeline of the move from the company's previous facility was very compressed, Mohl Sr. said.

Maplan still had a facility constructed from when it was part of the Starlinger Group in Hanover Park, Illinois, but that was built with Starlinger's specifications in mind.

According to Mohl Sr. the new facility now offers enough space to the company to display its capabilities to potential customers.

"In the last 20 months, Maplan North America has gained 13 new customers, and half of those are new to injection," he said.

"So we know looking in our crystal ball that Maplan is in the right position to be gaining new customers, and making an impact for injection moulders, including first-time rubber injection moulders," he noted.

During the event, the Austrian elastomer injection moulding machinery supplier also announced that its president Pat Hook is retiring.

Hook, who has been with the company for 30 years, will be retiring this summer, as Devan Lokagariwar takes up the position 15 July.

Lokagariwar has been working with Maplan since 2016, when he joined to help the company oversee the establishment of its facility in Changzhou, China, he said.