BUELLTON, Calif.—Global Silicones Inc. is making a $1.5 million investment in its operations in response to growth in the medical sector.
The custom silicone compounder is adding a third, 8,000-sq.-ft., facility to its campus in Buellton, about 500 feet from its two existing buildings. The company broke ground on the expansion in September, and it should be complete by March.
The firm expects to add about three jobs to its current work force of 10 with the new addition, which will house all of its clean room mixes and operations. Global Silicones currently operates one ISO Class 6 clean room and will be adding another through its expansion.
“We've increased more in the medical device arena,” General Manager Santiago Speceiro said. “There's been a good 30 percent growth in that arena. We want to dedicate more time and effort into that segment of the business.”
Global Silicones operates two mixing facilities that combine for 10,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Speceiro said the expansion only will increase its total manufacturing space to 12,000 square feet because it plans to relocate operations from its oldest building into the expanded 8,000-sq.-ft. facility to more efficiently utilize its production space.
He said after the move is complete the firm likely will lease out the excess space from its old building. It currently operates three sigma close bowl mixers and three mills, in addition to the clean room operations.
“We can pretty much handle anything that's thrown our way,” Speceiro said. “We've been a pretty solid business for some time. We've maintained some pretty steady growth and have done pretty well. I'm proud of the company. Our quality program is pretty top notch.”
He said the firm has experienced steady growth in the last three years and recently was registered AS 9100, an aerospace quality designation, in response to added business Global Silicones has received in that sector.
“This last year has been an incredibly good year in solidifying both the business and opportunities to grow in both the medical device and the aerospace sides,” Speceiro said.
“That was the reason why obtaining our AS 9100 was so important because we have more aerospace applications that we've been asked to do business for. The confidence that has been shown in us as a company and the desire for us to do more business with these new customers is what's necessitating the growth and the need for change.”