Micro Plastics is expanding its Arkansas operations with a $2.4 million investment in the north central Arkansas town of Melbourne that is estimated to add 79 jobs in five years.
The company, which produces threaded nylon fasteners in the world, will begin production at the expanded plant in the first quarter of 2016.
“This year is the 40th anniversary of our move to Arkansas,” Tom Hill, president of Micro Plastics, said in a statement provided by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “In that time we’ve grown from 15 employees to nearly 400 at our plant in Flippin. We are plotting our future for continued success and growth and we are looking forward to the Melbourne plant and community being a major part of that.”
The company has a headquarters and manufacturing facility in Flippin, Ark., employing 387 people. The Flippin plant has 93 plastic injection molding machines which produce plastic components for industry and retail, including nylon hardware such as screws and nuts, electronic components, and cable ties.
“For almost half a century, Micro Plastics has been a leader in the plastics sector,” said Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “When the company moved their headquarters from Illinois to Arkansas, they were looking for a location and workforce that would foster continued success. They found that here. Today we celebrate Micro Plastics and thank them for their ongoing commitment to doing business in Arkansas.”
Micro Plastics makes more than 10,000 standard catalog items. The company’s molded nylon components are designed to be tough, resistant to corrosion, light weight, and electrical insulators. Nylon components conform to irregular surfaces, provide vibration dampening, and offer an inexpensive alternative to more expensive metal parts.
“Obviously, we are extremely excited about Micro Plastic’s future presence in our community,” said Matt Rush, president of the Melbourne Industrial Development Corporation. “This area’s talented employee base will be a great fit for Micro’s employment needs.”
Micro Plastics was founded in the early 1960s in Chicago by Roy Hill. During the mid-1970s, Hill and his wife, Marilyn, moved their entire operation south to Flippin. Today, more than 380 employees work at the 238,000-square-foot facility.