(Williamston, MI) –Bekum America Corporation celebrated the expansion of its new production facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the facility and machine demonstrations. The Bekum leadership team, local dignitaries and business leaders were on hand to celebrate this momentous occasion. Bekum America also celebrated the retirement of its Chairman of the Board, Martin Stark, who over 40 years developed Bekum into North Americas leader in the design and manufacture of blow molding machinery.
“Bekum America is the leading provider of mono-layer and multi-layer extrusion blow molding technology in North America and we are thrilled to welcome our customers, local dignitaries and business leaders to our newly expanded facility,” said Steven D. London, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bekum America. “We are truly grateful for the hard work of our dedicated employees, the loyalty of our customers and the visionary leadership and commitment from our ownership.”
The new facility adds 38,000 square feet of manufacturing and 7,400 square feet of office space to Bekum’s existing 115,000 square foot facility. The new addition was designed by c2ae and was built by Wieland. The new expansion will allow Bekum America to increase machine output, shorten lead times and will result in continued expansion of the workforce. Bekum’s manufacturing team proudly shipped the 1 st machine from the new machine assembly hall in May.
The official opening of the new facility coincided with manufacturing day celebrations during which students from local school districts will tour the Bekum facility, learn more about careers in plastics industry, as well as Bekum’s award-winning apprenticeship program.
Martin Stark, Bekum’s outgoing Chairman was recognized at the event for devoting over 50 years of his professional career to the development and growth of the plastics industry. Stark has been an exemplary and honorable leader, with numerous industry recognitions including induction into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 2018.
“Martin – whose persistence and vision turned Bekum into North America’s top blow molding manufacturer – personifies great leadership in every sense of the word,” said London. “He is a man whose passion to ‘be all you can be’ surely made everyone who came in contact with him better.”
BEKUM America was established in 1979 with the mission to introduce top quality blow molding machinery, designed to produce plastic bottles, containers, and other large plastic parts in the North American marketplace, via blending German design and technology with American skill and ingenuity. Bekum’s customer base includes large multi-national customers, as well as owner/operator plastic bottle manufacturers.