SANFORD, Maine—Kri-Color L.L.C.'s home is now its own.
The Sanford-based silicone mixer recently purchased the 10,000-sq.-ft. building it had been renting, giving it more flexibility for the years ahead.
"The purchase gives us the ability to expand the building as we grow," Co-owner Mark Stevens told Rubber News. "At some point in the next several years, we will need to add additional square footage to accommodate new equipment as it's starting to get a little tight."
Kri-Color already is investing in its newly owned space, upgrading the building's electrical service to better accommodate the large equipment and give it the ability to add even more.
Already, Kri-Color has purchased a second 60-inch, two-roll mill that will be added to the production floor shortly. The company also is purchasing additional dust collection equipment and is expanding chiller capabilities to help keep equipment cool during manufacturing.
In total, the electric and equipment upgrades represent a $200,000 investment.
Kri-Color also is investing in its lab space, adding a third two-roll mill and a Hauschild SpeedMixer.
"These two items will give us the ability to increase throughput in our lab," Stevens said. "… It also gives us more redundancy should a piece of equipment require downtime for maintenance."
Kri-Color specializes in silicone pigmentations, and it services a range of end markets, including medical, food and beverage, construction and industrial.
