CASE STUDY: Quebec moldmaker Rocand Inc. sets up shop in Monterrey
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Quebec-based mold and die manufacturer
Rocand Inc.'s new facility in Monterrey, Mexico (pictured) will
allow the company to offer its products with outstanding lead
time.
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The increased demand for advanced injection molding is working its way up the ladder, and mold manufacturers are responding to the need for service and support in Mexico. Quebec City’s Rocand Inc. recently set up a new service facility in Mexico to enhance the company’s competitiveness.
There is no question that Mexico is a land of opportunity for skilled and ambitious plastic processors, particularly in industries such as automotive and aerospace. However, with the increasing presence of supply chains and OEMs in the country’s industrial centres, Canadian moldmakers are also finding a demand for their skills in Mexico.
After more than 10 years in the business, Quebec City, Que.-based Rocand Inc. recently announced that it had set up a plant in the Escobedo Industrial Park in Monterrey. Rocand is a mold & die designer and manufacturer for the injection molding, extrusion and blow molding sectors.
According to Rocand, the geographical expansion enhanced its competitiveness, enabling the company to offer high quality products with better lead times.
“Rocand is a close supplier that can offer continuous technical support for new molds, for mold maintenance, repair and modification near our client,” explained company president Andre Rochette.
The facility, which had been in development for approximately two years, features 8,000 square feet of production floor space and 5,000 square feet of office space. Management’s first goal was to provide enhanced and value-added service to Rocand’s past and existing clients, many of whom have operations in Mexico.
“We have installed this facility to offer technical support to our clients in Mexico,” said Rocand’s vice president Sarah Begin. “The facility is presently involved in mold maintenance and light engineering changes on the mold.”
In the short term, the Monterrey plant will focus entirely on servicing the local portfolio of clients. Service facilities can be a significant draw for processors, especially in just-in-time and lean manufacturing environments.
Although actual mold production is not in the books for the Mexico facility, Begin noted that the company has the infrastructure to manufacture molds at the facility in the future. Rocand Mexico’s facility has been outfitted with three CNC machines, an electric discharge machine (EDM), and welding and polishing equipment.
In terms of new business, Begin said the primary aim is to attract more projects at the company’s Canadian facility, using the Mexico facility’s capabilities as a value-added benefit for clients.
“[Monterrey is] a very large area, and very developed especially for the suppliers of the automotive industry,” noted Begin. Rocand’s client companies are traditionally involved in the e/e systems, consumer goods, biomedical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, packaging and automotive industries.
The automotive industry is particularly of note in Monterrey and surrounding areas. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Monterrey and Saltillo – a city located one hour away from Monterrey – are often called the “Detroit of Mexico.”
Rocand’s Mexico facility has been in operation since June 2007, and currently employs four people. Begin, who was closely involved with the local development, said two engineers from Rocand’s Canadian operation are working at the Mexico facility. The company also hired local staffers with extensive mold milling and mold finishing experience.
In total, Rocand plans to have between 10 and 15 people working at the Mexico plant within the first year of operation.
“The Mexico facility is a very good passport for us to keep, [because] we are close to clients and potential clients who are interested in having new business and new projects,” said Begin.
