Mantaline to close plant, in US, consolidate

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Mantua, Ohio -- Mantaline Corp. is closing a 10-year-old plant in Aurora, Ohio, and consolidating the operation into its Mantua headquarters facility.

The single facility will enable the maker of polymer-based sealing products for the transportation industry to optimise overhead and indirect labour costs in production, the company said. Tom Mlinar, vice president of business development, said the action will put the firm on a sustainable and profitable footing, rather than just break-even.

The company didn't disclose how the consolidation will affect employment. The 4000-m². Aurora plant houses microwave curing lines that produce single and dual extrusion profiles that can be produced in solid or sponge rubber, along with metal and wire carrier capabilities and other products.

Mantaline engineers reconfigured the Mantua facility to make the best use of the existing space, the company said. The firm also has contracted for additional space near it headquarters to house some auxiliary operations and shipping.

All essential extruding and moulding and moulding operations now will be under one roof, Mantaline said.

The company was founded 45 years ago and in 1989 become employee owned.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)