Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • ITEC
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • War in Ukraine
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • 2022 Hose & Belt Manufacturers Conference
    • 2022 International Silicone Conference
    • 2022 International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • 2022 Women Breaking the Mold
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
August 09, 2004 02:00 AM

Morris Latex to increase synthetic capacity

Mike McNulty
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    Morris Latex Products Inc. will double capacity of neoprene breathing bags at its Noble, Okla., factory by the end of 2004 to keep up with demand.

    The company has added five dipping lines and will put in an additional oven by year-end to give it the ability to run natural or synthetic rubber bags simultaneously, according to Walter Morris, Morris Latex's founder.

    Presently, the firm doesn't have the oven capacity to handle five neoprene lines and the NR lines at the same time. The new automatic oven will allow it to do so, he said at the International Latex Conference, held July 20-21 in Fairlawn, Ohio.

    The firm also ``will take a hard look at some point at dipping other items,'' said Morris, who serves as president and CEO of the company, although Executive Vice President Timothy Morris, his son, manages the operation. ``We've got a 24,000-sq.-ft. building next to our plant we can used for that purpose.''

    Morris Latex is the sole source of breather bags for most of its customers, and operates its 75,000-sq.-ft. plant in Noble 24 hours a day, four days a week. The new lines and oven should not impact that setup, Walter Morris said, but the firm can expand its workweek and work force should the need arise. The company's staff fluctuates between 80 and 100.

    ``We've made a commitment to our customers that they can't outstrip our inventory,'' Morris said. ``We've been doing this for 24 years and we deliver what we promise.'' The company produces 15 different rubber latex or neoprene breathing bags in various sizes.

    The firm has a number of other plans on the drawing board, but Morris said it is premature to divulge them. Because it's debt-free and has strong cash reserves, its options are numerous.

    A group of companies Morris Latex purchased last year that operate under a separate holding company, MMS L.L.C., are doing well, he said. ``It's taken us about a year to get those businesses off the ground and on their feet, but we're pleased with the results so far.''

    Those companies are managed by Morris' son, David. Two are marketing and sales businesses while two-Poland-based Avion Medical Spolko z.o.o. and CPM de Reynosa S.A. de C.V. of Mexico-primarily are manufacturers of respiratory and anesthesia devices.

    Each is expanding its base and essentially becoming job shops that produce both medical and non-medical products. The two businesses do extrusion and injection molding along with packing of parts for medical product makers. They handle small- and medium-sized projects at their factories and are concentrating on growing as contract and original equipment manufacturers.

    ``They're doing much more contract manufacturing than they did before,'' Morris said. ``Because we can do custom molding of practically any material, we'll make anything we can sign contracts on-as long as we make a profit.''

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Feds to help boost U.S. glove production
    2
    Danfoss Power Solutions, former Eaton Hydraulics see success a year after purchase
    3
    Wacky World of Rubber: The true story behind the rubber match
    4
    Cooper-Standard shows improvements amid headwinds
    5
    Trelleborg sails into 'known waters' with Minnesota Rubber, Plastics acquisition
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright Ā© 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • ITEC
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • War in Ukraine
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • 2022 Hose & Belt Manufacturers Conference
        • 2022 International Silicone Conference
        • 2022 International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • 2022 Women Breaking the Mold
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION