N K Expands Local Plant

GRAND RAPIDS — In an effort to meet sharply increased demand for its automotive components, N-K Manufacturing Technologies Inc. is adding new equipment and employees that will expand the molding capabilities at its Grand Rapids plant.

The custom molder of plastics already has begun adding the first of 50 new employees to its staff of 100, including additional engineers, sales support and manufacturing personnel. N-K Manufacturing also has purchased 12 additional presses, ranging in size from 30-ton to 500-ton.

“We are pleased to be able to add new molding capabilities that strengthen the services we can offer the automotive industry,” said Armen Kassouni, vice president of N-K Manufacturing. “Our customers continue to look for increasingly complex interior components. This expansion allows us to meet those needs.”

The expansion will significantly expand the company’s capabilities in the production and decoration of interior components used on global automotive platforms.

Kassouni said the company’s manufacturing facility at 1134 Freeman Ave. SW, in Grand Rapids, has been reconfigured to accommodate the new presses. Through the use of lean manufacturing and “black-belt” concepts, the reconfiguration will allow N-K Manufacturing to capture additional operating efficiencies through better workflow within the existing space of the facility.

The Grand Rapids plant now houses 34 molding presses with capabilities in multi-shot, insert, over-molding and in-mold decorative technologies. The expansion allows the firm to decorate interior components using in-mold decoration, laser etching and pad printing.

“We have added new technology that complements our existing core strengths,” Kassouni said. “These new capabilities will better position N-K Manufacturing to meet the needs of all our existing customers and secure additional work from new customers.”