Container molder sets up in southwestern Ontario (March 21, 2005)

After several false starts, an injection molding facility in the beachside community of Goderich, ON, may finally have found its legs. A large German plastics company has purchased the 86,000 sq. ft. facility formerly owned by Goderich Plastics, and plans to begin production of pails by mid-May.
The Goderich plant will be the first North American production site for Jokey Plasik. Based in Germany, Jokey is a family-owned enterprise with 1200 employees and 10 manufacturing facilites worldwide. The company specializes in plastic containers, technical components and bathroom furniture.
The plant in Goderich has a storied past. RenWel Inc. attempted to launch a custom molding and thermoforming company there in 2001. That venture was not successful, and the assets were sold to Goderich Plastics in 2002. Goderich Plastics was not successful in entering the plastics market either. In 2004, Jokey purchased the plant but not Goderich’s nine injection molding machines. Jokey is installing seven Demag injection molding units.
Dan Eden, formerly v-p of manufacturing with Goderich Plastics, leads the new Jokey plant as production manager. He expects the facility to run 5 days a week once it begins production, with about 25 employees.
Goderich is located on the shore of Lake Huron, approximately 100 km north of Sarnia.