BALDWIN, Wis.—Medical molder Nolato Contour will add 27,000 square feet to its Baldwin facility as part of a $17.9 million project expected to create 62 jobs during the next three years.
The expansion calls for two additional clean rooms and space for material handling and warehousing at the U.S. division of Nolato Medical, which is part of Sweden's Nolato A.B.
Formerly known as Contour Plastics, the business was founded in 1990 and sold to Nolato in 2010. Based in Torekov, Sweden, Nolato molds thermoplastics, silicone and thermoplastic elastomers for the medical, auto, telecommunications and some industrial markets at operations in Europe, Asia and North America.
Nolato Contour molds and assembles plastic and silicone components and devices for U.S. medical and pharmaceutical companies. The Baldwin plant, which has about 160 employees, is the group's first U.S. facility.
"Nolato Contour is highly focused on our customers, and they have responded with significant long-term increases in demand," Russ Steele, president and managing director for the company, said in a news release. "We have chosen to increase our capacity in Baldwin because of Wisconsin's positive business climate and great workforce."
The state has "work-ready" engineering graduates from the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and Chippewa Valley Technical College, Steele added.
With estimated sales of $44 million, Nolato Contour ranks 148th among North American injection molders, according to Plastics News data.
"We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to assist in building capacity in Wisconsin," Steele said.
WEDC has authorized up to $250,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years. The actual amount of the tax credits is contingent on the number of jobs created and the amount of capital investment during that period.
"A vital local economy grows when local businesses invest in the community," Tracy Carlson, administrator and clerk-treasurer of the Village of Baldwin, said in the release. "Baldwin applauds Nolato Contour for continuing to be a partner and leader in economic growth in our community. This expansion is exciting for our community and local workforce."
Nolato reported 2017 operating profit of $84.5 million on sales of $761 million. The medical division saw sales of $216.5 million.