The Rodon Group Blog

What do Ford, GE, Whirlpool and Boeing have in common?  They are shifting manufacturing from China and Mexico and are “on-shoring” this production back to the United States.  Yes, it’s true. Many companies are re-thinking their long-held “off-shore” manufacturing strategy.

According to Jim McNerney, CEO of Boeing, “We, lemming-like, over the last 15 years, extended our supply chains a little too far globally in the name of low cost. We lost control, in some cases, over quality and service; when we did that we underestimated the value of our workers back here."

Many large companies are re-discovering what we at Rodon have known for a long time.  With the right people and the right technology, American manufacturers are the smart choice for high-quality, cost-effective production.

Over the past 55 years, Rodon has invested heavily in state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and highly-trained personnel.  We take pride in the level of quality and service we provide right here in America.  From our sophisticated model and tool design to our automated presses, we offer a complete manufacturing solution for high-volume plastic parts and products.

 View additional Plastics News videos: http://www.plasticsnews.com/multimedia/video.html)

Many products that are a part of everyday life go unnoticed, either because they are components of larger items or they are so commonly used that little thought is given to their existence.  Items manufactured by plastic injection molding often fall into this category.  Without them however, life would be void of a number of modern conveniences. 

By looking around at home or business, one can better understand and appreciate the items that exist because of the injection molding process.   Screwdriver handles, tool box casters, and plastic fasteners are likely to be found in the average garage.  Appliances and plumbing systems normally include plastic components that are not seen.  Visible items include toys, eyeglass cases, handles, and knobs.  The list could go on and on but enough examples are given here to illustrate the point.

In today's economy, an easy assumption to make is that all plastic components made by injection molding come from China.  However, stateside manufacturers are available and there are distinct advantages to purchasing these products domestically.  Flexibility is one benefit that US manufacturers can provide that is practically unheard of with material sourced in Asia.  Chinese facilities are typically geared toward large lot sizes and long lead times.  Combine the added inventory that must be carried as a result with the increased transportation costs and the advantages of overseas production start to go away.  Additionally, United States manufacturers are usually more capable in regards to higher quality standards than their Asian counterparts.  This is mainly due to the fact that manufacturing technology is not as advanced there.  In the event of a quality problem or a specification change, additional product in the pipeline means the issue is compounded and harder to resolve as opposed to the same issue encountered with a US sourced item.  In short, the reasons to buy from a stateside supplier include cost, quality, and lead time.

Taken from the American Made Matters January Newsletter http://bit.ly/yF2Yf3

A New Year brings new hope. Hope for a better year and resolutions for improvement and positive change. 2012 brings hope and renewed optimism for American manufacturing.

We have witnessed some reversal of a trend of manufacturing relocating or being replaced by competitors in lower wage countries. For some industries this trend has covered forty years. We have also observed new brands and manufacturers who are determined to make products in the United States. American Made Matters® has very much been a part of this movement.

Our member and sponsor list has grown to forty one and includes a diverse group of American manufacturers. Men’s and women’s apparel and accessories brands and producers comprise a large segment of our growing organization, but our group is diverse. As an example, we also are proud to include as members automotive and utility cabinet maker Geneva Manufacturing, vacuum cleaner brands Simplicity and Riccar, toy maker K’NEX, furniture maker TLS by Design, pet supplies makers Purrfect Play and Zentek Clothing Company.

We share a mission that buying American made products matters to our economy, local communities, jobs, our safety, the environment, national security and the independence of our country. Most importantly buying American will help to strengthen the American dream.

Excerpt taken from Rock Center http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/14/10156162-made-in-america-trend-against-outsourcing-brings-jobs-back-from-china#.TxXUxnX_eE4.twitter 

The United States may be on the verge of bringing back manufacturing jobs from China.

Harold Sirkin, along with Michael Zinser and Douglas Hohner (all experts from the Boston Consulting Group – a leading management consulting firm), says that outsourcing manufacturing to China is not as cheap as it used to be and that the United States is poised to bring back jobs from China. The three consultants first reached this conclusion in a recently published study titled “Made in America, Again: Why Manufacturing Will Return to the U.S.”

Many companies, especially in the auto and furniture industries, moved plants overseas once China opened its doors to free trade and foreign investment in the last few decades. Labor was cheaper for American companies – less than $1 per hour according to the BCG report. Today, labor costs in China have risen dramatically, and shipping and fuel costs have skyrocketed. As China’s economy has expanded, and China has built new factories all across the country, the demand for workers has risen. As a result, wages are up as new companies compete to hire the best workers.

“The tilt is now getting lower,” Sirkin says. “We think somewhere around 2015 it’ll look flat and may start to tilt in the U.S. favor at that point in time.”

The Rodon Group has been named a finalist for the 16th Annual Processor of Year Award presented by Plastics News. This prestigious award will be presented at the end of January at the Plastics News Executive Forum in Tampa, FL.

Every plastic part starts with a precision mold design.

The first step in guaranteeing precision plastic parts is by working with a manufacturer who has experience in creating perfect molding design.

We invite you to take a look at our video on plastic mold design to learn more about how The Rodon Group is prepared to utilize cutting edge technology to deliver a better plastic part, every time.

Q: How do I know if injection molding is the right process for my product?

A: The geometry of the part, the amount of parts needed, your tooling budget and the application the part is being used for will all influence your decision to injection mold the part.


Q: What type of information is required for quoting a molding project?

K’NEX Brands, the only U.S. construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love™, has chosen the winners of its 2012 K’NEXpert Search. The nationwide search asks kids ages 5-12 to submit original designs made entirely out of K’NEX pieces. This year, for the first time, three creative kids were awarded $20,000 savings bonds for college in celebration of the upcoming K’NEX 20th anniversary in 2012.

The three Grand Prize winners and seven finalists were chosen from three age categories.  As Grand Prize winners, Andy from Waterloo, ON, Canada (5-6 year-old age group); Andrew from Glenmoore, PA (7-8 year-old age group) and Josef from Plano, TX (9-12 year-old age group) will each be awarded a $20,000 Series EE U.S. Savings Bond to be used for their education. The seven finalists, who will each be awarded $1,000 Series EE Savings Bonds, are: Jessica, age 5, from Plano, TX; Reilly, age 6, from Slidell, LA; Rachael, age 8, from Garland, TX; Alex, age 8, from Waterloo, ON, Canada; Judd, age 11, from Ottawa, ON, Canada; Melissa, age 10, from Plano, TX; and Evan, age 12, from Huxley, IA.

The three Grand Prize winners will visit K’NEX headquarters in Hatfield, PA on December 2. As guests of K’NEX President Michael Araten the winners will receive their award checks, enjoy a lunch with K’NEX designers and take a private factory tour. Their award-winning models will be displayed at K’NEX headquarters.

Since 1956, we have made billions of American made products in our 125,000 square foot facility, including manufacturing over 30 billion parts since 1992 for the K’NEX building toy system. With over 105 injection molding presses, we are one of the largest family-owned and operated injection molders in the United States. K’NEX is the only U.S. construction toy company, with over 90% of its parts manufactured right here at Rodon.

“At K’NEX and Rodon, we’ve learned that manufacturing in America can actually be more cost effective than manufacturing overseas,” said Michael Araten, President and CEO of both K’NEX Brands and The Rodon Group. “We are thrilled to make this kind of quality, cost effective domestic manufacturing available to other businesses looking to eliminate the risks of offshore sourcing.”

We are active members of the organization American Made Matters , whose mission is to educate consumers about buying US-made products to help strengthen the American Dream and are third generation family businesses located in Hatfield, PA. We are proud to be a part of the local community while encouraging American entrepreneurship.