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The Orange County CA plant has over 50 diecasting machines in operation for zinc and aluminum parts

Dynacast Sets Up New Plant for Finish Machining

May 10, 2016
Satellite location in Tijuana reduces logistical costs for customers shipping products to Mexico. First “center of excellence” for secondary operations CNC machining, tapping, reaming, and drilling More space complex operations, skilled jobs

Specialty diecaster Dynacast International reported it has opened a new plant in Tijuana, Mexico, that will function as “an extension” of its Lake Forest, CA, plant, housing some secondary operations, including CNC machining. The moves will make more valuable space available at the California location, though the company’s announcement only vaguely indicated its future plans for the Orange County operation involve “complex operations and highly skilled jobs.”

The two locations are separated by about 100 miles.

The Charlotte-based group explained that locating the operations at the new plant in Tijuana would help to reduce logistical costs for Dynacast customers that ship components to Mexico. The group also has a separate diecasting plant at San Martin Obispo, north of Mexico City.

Dynacast is a diecasting and metal-injection molding group with 23 plants in 16 countries. Its aluminum, magnesium, and zinc products are manufactured by both the cold-chamber and hot-chamber diecasting processes. It supplies components to customers in automotive, telecommunications, computing, consumer electronics, and healthcare markets.

According to the group’s website, the Lake Forest, CA, plant 33 multi-slide zinc diecasting machines, ranging from four to 28 tons; two standard zinc diecasting machines, 160-200 tons; and 17 aluminum diecasting machines, 135-520 tons. It has in-house precision toolmaking capability, and offers design, prototyping, modeling, and various finishing capabilities (tumbling, polishing, shot blasting, thermal de-burring.)

The plant also has quality control (hardware visual and X-ray inspection), testing (electrical, air, and water leak testing), ultra-sonic cleaning, installation, and assembly capabilities.

"Secondary" operations listed for the California plant are CNC machining, tapping, reaming, and drilling.

"This new initiative is a first for Dynacast in creating a "center of excellence" for secondary operations,” explained Thinh Pho, general manager of both plants. “By utilizing the experienced management team in Lake Forest and employing a shelter service provider to operate and manage the Tijuana plant, the combined Lake Forest-Tijuana business model will be leaner and more competitive than ever before. “This has a tremendously favorable impact on our ability to win new customers and grow existing partners. It's a win-win for Dynacast and our partners," according to Pho.

Dynacast continues to grow and improve their manufacturing footprint—now with 23 plants in 16 countries. The strategic placement of the Tijuana facility will help reduce logistic costs for Dynacast customers that ship components to Mexico. Dynacast customers have seamless access to plants around the world that help launch new projects with minimal risk and lower costs.

About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others.