BNL Ltd., the UK-based plastic bearing designer and manufacturer that maintains its U.S. headquarters in Foxboro, Mass. is opening a factory in Thailand to streamline its supply chain and increase capacity as its operations continue to expand. BNL (UK) Ltd. specializes in the design and manufacture of thermoplastic bearing assemblies and technical moulding solutions.
To accommodate future expansion, the company is establishing a purpose-built factory near Rayong, one of Thailands thriving industrial and manufacturing centers.
"BNL's sustained growth means we have to plan for new capacity and this, combined with increasing sales of our products to Malaysia, China and other countries in Asia, encouraged us to establish a new factory in Thailand," said Dave Clark, International Manufacturing Manager, commenting on BNL's expansion in Asia. The site is also close to one of BNL's major suppliers, creating efficiencies throughout the entire supply chain.
Initially taking on assembly of parts for some Asia-based customers, there will be further opportunities to transfer other assembly work and some moulding activities to the factory. A team of 50 assemblers will begin operations in August and September. Additional staff will operate seven new Krauss Maffei moulding machines ranging from 35 -- 160 tons, bringing BNL's total machine count to 40.
