Bethel — GW Plastics last week announced the completion of a major expansion of its Dongguan, China, facilities. The project more than doubled the size of the plant, and the new 125,000-square-foot facility will permit the company to streamline its tooling, molding and medical device assembly operations while leaving room for contract manufacturing growth, the company said in a news release.
The company plans to enhance its Asia manufacturing capabilities with liquid silicone rubber injection molding, as well as product development support with increased prototyping, bridge tooling, mold sampling and short-run production.
“This has allowed us to become a natural extension of our customers’ production capabilities by providing them with a reliable and proven partner to confidently develop and manufacture their finished medical devices across the globe,” Brenan Riehl, GW Plastics’ president and CEO, said in the release.
The announcement was made at last week’s Medical Design & Manufacturing West 2016 Exposition, held in Anaheim, Calif.
The Bethel-based precision injection molding company, which has been experiencing rapid growth in its medical device contract manufacturing business, also announced that it has broken ground on an expansion of its Royalton facilities.
The 21,000-square-foot project, which the company said is scalable to 50,000 square feet, will allow for the growth of its thermoplastic and liquid silicone rubber injection molding and medical device contract assembly business. In addition, the expansion will allow for 30 additional injection molding machines, an enlarged cleanroom, and an expansion of the company’s Scientific Molding Process Development and Training Center.
The project, which is expected to be complete this spring, will allow GW Plastics’ affiliate, GW Silicones, to add capacity to support ongoing growth.
Company News
David Livesley and Dora Foschi, owners of The Woodstocker Inn Bed & Breakfast , have been named runner-ups for the 2015 B&B Marketer of the Year award by BedandBreakfast.com. The award recognizes bed-and-breakfast owners “who excel at developing and implementing successful marketing programs,” the inn said in a news release. Livesley and Foschi moved from the United Kingdom to the United States to purchase The Woodstocker Inn in 2005. They renovated the country-style property into a contemporary luxury inn and made an effort to attract more international travelers by working with a UK-based tour company. “As a result, the inn has completely changed its client base, received more than $20,000 in bookings from the tour company … (and) has clients who book a year in advance,” the release said. Judging was based on the following criteria: tangible and significant business results, clearly defined marketing objectives, clearly defined target audiences, a multi-faceted marketing program, and creativity. Castle in the Country B&B in Allegan, Mich., was the second runner-up, and Wolf Cove Inn in Poland, Maine, took the top prize.
Upcoming Events
The Upper Valley chapter of SCORE is offering a workshop on How to Make a Video on Thursday, from 6-9 p.m., at Franklin Pierce University, 24 Airport Road, West Lebanon. Workshop participants will have the chance to create their own short video to use to promote themselves or their business. Learn about and actually do planning, recording, editing and publishing on Facebook, YouTube and other media. Cost is $40, two for $60. Veterans free. To reserve a spot, visit http://www.uppervalley.score.org, email score@valley.net or call 603-448-3491.
The Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce and the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce are seeking volunteers to help out at the upcoming HomeLife Expo, scheduled for March 18, 19 and 20 at the Leverone Field House on the campus of Dartmouth College. The chambers also are looking for a chamber member or friend to act as the volunteer coordinator, both soliciting participation and coordinating schedules. Volunteers get a parking pass and free entry to the Expo. Email curt@westlebanonsupply.com or sboyle@sjboylewealthplanning.com if you are interested or know somebody who may be. To see the tasks and times available, go to http://bit.ly/1R0kceV. For more information about 38th annual HomeLife Expo, go to http://www.homelifeexpo.com.
Items of interest to the local business community are published every Sunday. Submissions may be mailed to: Business Notes, c/o Sunday Valley News, P.O. Box 877, White River Junction, Vt. 05001. You may also send your items by fax to 603-298-0212, or by e-mail to biznotes@vnews.com. All items are subject to editing for clarity or space.
